Retail & Commercial

NBT Bancorp (NBTB) in Norwich, N.Y., reported fourth-quarter net income of $17.9 million, a 37% increase from a year earlier.

Community banking representatives met with hostility a recommendation that the U.S. Postal Service consider offering financial services. The proposal raises questions about whether the Obama administration is trying to circumvent Congress and replace payday lenders with a government entity. American Banker staffers discuss.

FirstMerit (FMER) in Akron, Ohio, announced a substantial increase in net income because of its April purchase of Citizens Republic Bancorp in Flint, Mich.

HSBC North America is doubling its international loan program with an eye on emerging international markets.

Institutions with solid, but underperforming assets and lagging stock price valuation multiples are vulnerable to activist investors. Address problems before they are attracted to your bank.

Jefferies Group said it agreed to pay $25 million as part of a settlement with regulators into suspected abuses in trading of mortgage-backed securities. The deal includes a non-prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Connecticut.

The $5.7 billion-asset company said Monday that it had promoted Josephine Iannelli as its CFO, effective immediately. Iannelli, 41, had been the company’s principal accounting officer since July.

Does Bitcoin require its own set of regulations, or can businesses that trade in the virtual currency and payment system be policed effectively under existing rules?

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a three-page advisory Monday in response to recent card and data breaches, encouraging consumers to monitor their accounts for unauthorized charges or debits.

Bank of Hawaii (BOH) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $39.1 million, down 3% from a year earlier.