Eric Hovde, CEO of Sunwest Bank and Republican nominee for Senate in Wisconsin, is running a tight race against incumbent Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin. In an interview with American Banker, Hovde talked about wanting to deregulate the banking industry and bring financial savvy to Washington.

The Pittsburgh-based company's earnings fell 4% in the third quarter from a year ago, although noninterest income climbed 11%.

Caution among business owners has held down loans at the megabank and many of its smaller competitors. But third-quarter earnings suggest activity is rebounding.

Bank of America, Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank are among the institutions taking advantage of regulatory tailwinds to get more aggressive.

Analysts peppered CEO Jane Fraser with questions about whether Citigroup, already hit hard by its regulators, could face asset growth restrictions. She said there is "absolutely nothing" in the works that could impact the megabank's businesses.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Director Rohit Chopra was stymied for months by a Supreme Court case that put many enforcement actions on hold, but the bureau is making up for lost time.