Retail & Commercial

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.

JPMorgan Chase agreed to pay 72.2 million euros ($92 million) in fines to European Union regulators for influencing derivatives and spreads linked to Libor rates and Swiss francs, the EU said Tuesday.

The biggest fear cited by nearly 1,400 people who were polled is that they won't have enough money to pay the monthly bills.

Washington Trust Bancorp in Westerly, R.I., reported increased profitability that reflected balance sheet growth and lower costs.

Regions Financial in Birmingham, Ala., reported higher third-quarter earnings, as cost cuts offset declines in net interest income and fee income.

Wilshire Bancorp in Los Angeles reported higher quarterly profit that was boosted by recent acquisitions.

Synovus Financial in Columbus, Ga., reported a higher third-quarter profit as its total loans and net interest income increased.

Immigrant reform advocates want an Arizona judge to block two laws that have been the legal foundation for raids on businesses and the arrest of immigrant workers using stolen or fake IDs to get jobs. Supporters of the laws say ID theft victims can run into many problems as a result, including obtaining loans.

Northland Group Inc., based in Minneapolis, recently acquired the collection business of Accounts Receivable Management Inc.