Revenue challenges are driving the Utah bank's plan to reduce expenses, according to CEO Harris Simmons. "I talk to our peers, and everybody's looking for ways to cut costs," he said.

Since the country's instant-settlement network doesn't cover everyone, ANZ is extending its excess capacity to other financial institutions. It's a strategy that's emerging in the U.S. and other markets.

Aiming to capture a bigger share of the cross-border payments market, Visa has signed a five-year agreement with the U.K.-based fintech.

Fraser has a plan to reduce the number of management layers at Citi, shrink its workforce, speed up decision-making and give herself more control of the bank's five core businesses. "It's going to make some of our people very uncomfortable," she said.

Frontline staffers are asking for better pay, internal talent development programs and more flexible work environments.

A handful of banks concentrated in the Southeast U.S. are facing elevated charge-offs amid the liquidation of Mountain Express Oil. First Horizon Corp., which led a syndicated loan of more than $200 million to the bankrupt company, expects to take a $70 million hit.