Retail & Commercial

Earnings at FirstMerit, the $14.6 billion-asset Akron, Ohio, bank rose 10%, to $34.9 million in the third quarter, compared with a year earlier, it reported Tuesday. Noninterest expense fell 6.4%, to $108.5 million, over the same period.

Lending to companies that service the federal government have historically been safe bets, but that could change if Washington is forced to make drastic cuts early next year.

Two consumer advocates who gave advance warning of the subprime mortgage crisis are now arguing that a responsible return to less-than-prime lending can work for lenders and borrowers.

Banks can retain their best and brightest staff by offering career advancement opportunities, competitive base salaries, adequate training and attentive performance management.

Synovus Financial (SNV) in Columbus, Ga., reported a slight uptick in third-quarter income from a year earlier as its credit costs declined.

Visa, delivering on its promise of greater issuer support for its V.me digital wallet, announced U.S. Bank as its latest partner.

BBCN Bancorp in Los Angeles has agreed to buy Pacific International Bancorp in Seattle.

Royal Bank of Canada, the nation's largest lender, agreed to buy Ally Financial's Canadian auto-finance and deposit business in a cash deal providing $4.1 billion in proceeds to Ally.

Want to sell your bank for the best possible price? It will pay to ride the merger wave early, dealmakers say.

A deal by TD Bank to buy Target's consumer credit card portfolio, which follows TD's acquisition of MBNA Canada late last year, will "significantly" expand the bank's card presence in North America.