Americas

Sandy Spring Bancorp Inc. in Olney, Md., said Thursday that its net income rose almost 33% from a year earlier, to $11.3 million.

Simmons First National Corp. in Pine Bluff, Ark., said Thursday that its third-quarter earnings fell 4% from a year earlier, to $7.3 million, due primarily to sharp drop in income from from the sale of student loans.

Taylor reported third-quarter earnings of $7.3 million following three quarters of losses. CEO Mark Hoppe said the company's credit costs are down and all of its growth engines are up and running.

Silicon Valley Bank said Thursday that it has received a key approval from a Chinese regulator to establish a joint venture bank in Shanghai.

First Niagara Financial Group Inc. on Thursday reported third-quarter earnings that were weighed down by more than $16 million in costs from closing former Harleysville National Corp. branches in Pennsylvania.

The two largest U.S. banks serving Chinese Americans — Cathay General Bancorp and East West Bancorp Inc. — both reported double-digit jumps in third-quarter profits. Each cited solid demand for commercial loans.

Washington Federal Inc. in Seattle said Thursday that profits in its fiscal-year fourth quarter nearly doubled from a year earlier as its volume of problem loans continued to shrink.

TCF Financial Corp. said Thursday that its third-quarter earnings declined 14% from the same period last year, to $31.7 million, due largely to a sharp drop in fees earned on deposit accounts.

Iberiabank Corp. has agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle claims the Lafayette, La., company illegally charged customers excessive overdraft fees.

Cardinal Financial Corp. in Tysons Corner, Va., on Wednesday said that third-quarter earnings rose 46% from a year earlier, to $8.6 million, due largely to improved credit trends and balance sheet growth.