Retail & Commercial

Acquisition pushes quarterly revenues past $1 billion for first time ever.

Big increases in construction and commercial real estate lending boosted revenue at the Kansas City, Mo., company.

The company wants a big deal to help push it over $50 billion of assets, at which point it will be considered systematically important.

First Merchants in Muncie, Ind., has agreed to buy Arlington Bank in Upper Arlington, Ohio.

Total loans rose 7%, but the provision for loan losses jumped 27% to $1.7 billion.

Increases in commercial real estate, C&I and municipal and state loans boosted fourth-quarter profit at the $13 billion-asset Trustmark.

Strong loan growth was partially offset by rising delinquencies in its flagship credit card business, as well as in student and personal loans.

The National Credit Union Administration and credit union trade groups cheered a judge's decision to dismiss a lawsuit against the agency's member business lending rule, but ICBA is still mulling the possibility of an appeal.

A deal between Ford Motor Credit and a San Francisco-based startup will give car buyers the option of customizing their own loan terms.

Fifth Third and other regionals have ditched what they deem to be high-risk commercial loans in hopes of strengthening credit quality over the long term.