Americas

Western Alliance Bancorp. in Phoenix reported higher fourth-quarter profit on higher commercial and construction lending and improved fee income.

The collapse in oil prices hammered fourth-quarter profits at Hancock Holding as the Gulfport, Miss., sharply boosted its loan-loss provision address weakness in its energy loan book.

BankUnited in Miami Lakes, Fla., reported a double-digit percentage increase in fourth-quarter profit, citing growth in loans and fee income.

The financial technology accelerator Startupbootcamp FinTech in New York has formed partnerships with Deutsche Bank, a law firm and a venture capital firm to advise its participants.

At least five regional banks on Thursday discarded concerns about the global economy, stocks, interest rates and credit quality, forecasting loan growth for the rest of this year.

F.N.B. in Pittsburgh said Thursday that its fourth-quarter profit fell 0.5% from a year earlier, to $37.1 million.

KeyCorp believes it can surpass cost-cutting projections tied to its purchase of First Niagara Financial, while BB&T believes market duress could present it with more acquisition opportunities.

ASB Bancorp in Asheville, N.C., has agreed to appoint to its board the activist investor Lawrence Seidman and another representative picked by Seidman.

Huntington Bancshares in Columbus, Ohio, reported higher fourth-quarter earnings, citing increases in commercial and auto lending and fees from deposit accounts and payment processing.

KeyCorp reported lower quarterly results that reflected higher expenses and lower fee income.