Retail & Commercial

CNB Financial reported higher quarter earnings after buying FC Bancorp in Ohio. The $2.2 billion-asset company reported an 18% increase in third-quarter earnings from a year earlier, to $5.5 million.

Richard Hunt of the Consumer Bankers Association describes the changes to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau he'll press for in the next Congress, regardless of which party controls the Senate.

Richard Hunt of the Consumer Bankers Association describes the changes to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau he'll press for in the next Congress, regardless of which party controls the Senate.

BBCN Bancorp in Los Angeles reported a decline in quarterly earnings tied to higher expenses and a rise in loan payoffs.

The $2.9 billion-asset company's third-quarter earnings more than tripled from the second quarter, which included upfront merger-related expenses, and rose 72% from a year earlier, to $5.9 million.

The Mississippi company withdrew two merger applications in August after the FDIC targeted its Bank Secrecy Act compliance. Management says it has made significant progress and is looking forward to a follow-up exam early next year.

The Community Reinvestment Act is often used as a tool to address a broad range of social problems. But the law’s expanded purpose may distract banks from their primary mission of direct lending to low- and moderate-income communities.

Signature Bank in New York reported higher third-quarter profits driven by an uptick in commercial and multifamily lending.

First Defiance Financial in Defiance, Ohio, reported higher quarterly profit after posting higher fee income.

The GSE regulator's second attempt to stimulate the mortgage market is receiving a lukewarm reception from lenders, who remain gun-shy after being forced by Fannie and Freddie to repurchase billions of dollars in soured loans since 2008.