Retail & Commercial

Consumer advocates, regulators and others are encouraged when companies take a "we want to design the best product" approach rather than a "we want to meet a minimum threshold" approach.

Regions Financial's second-quarter earnings spiked as the Birmingham, Ala., company managed to reduce expenses and problem loans.

U.S. Bancorp has begun offering corporate clients the ability to use virtual account numbers to handle travel expenses.

Second-quarter profits almost doubled at Zions Bancorporation (ZION) from a year earlier, but the Salt Lake City company's results still fell short of analysts' expectations.

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BancorpSouth posted lower earnings from the first quarter after adjusting for lower valuations in its mortgage servicing rights, the company said Monday.

Second-quarter profit at Eagle Bancorp (EGBN) rose 57% from a year ago, as the Bethesda, Md.-based company grew its loan portfolio and gathered more fee income.

Fueled by increased fee income, Chemical Financial (CHFC) in Midland, Mich., posted its highest quarterly earnings per share in more than six years.

Visa and MasterCard repeatedly have been targets of legal actions and legislation over their policies. It has cost them and their issuers billions over the years in settlements and lost revenue.

The Milstein family's recent sale of Emigrant Bank's New York branches shows how banks can innovate when they don't answer to a wide shareholder base.