Retail & Commercial

Fourth-quarter profits rose 10% at the Cleveland company as investment banking income hit a record and nonperforming loans plummeted. Executives say charge-offs will probably start rising in late 2022 but that fee income from capital markets transactions will keep growing.

The Buffalo, New York, bank is tweaking its loan mix and reducing some deposits in interest-bearing accounts. It says the moves should boost its net interest margin, which has declined in almost every quarter since the start of the pandemic.

Executives predict a 5% to 6% bump in lending this year, and they also say they'd be comfortable if up to a third of the Cincinnati company's excess cash migrates away.

The tax preparation giant is diversifying its services with a digital bank that it hopes will entice customers with no-fee features, cash back rewards and early access to paychecks.

The Tennessee bank reported an uptick in commercial lending during the fourth quarter. Executives pointed to the impact of a 2020 acquisition that allowed First Horizon to bulk up in in Florida, Georgia and Louisiana.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has opened an inquiry into whether the largest issuers are engaging in unfair or anti-competitive practices. JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and the rest of the top eight control 70% of the $1 trillion credit card market.

The nonprofit received a $1.5 million grant to monitor, evaluate and strengthen consumer protections in the digital financial marketplace. Here's what it's doing with the funds.

Costs climbed 11% in the fourth quarter, but the Georgia company says it remains on track to generate $175 million by the end of this year through a combination of expense cuts and revenue enhancements.

The Boston company is forecasting larger earnings growth in the first year after closing its $3.5 billion deal than it projected in September. On the flip side, the acquisition will take longer to close than initially expected.

The deal is the latest example of a mainstream bank buying a point-of-sale lender focused on financing home improvement projects.