Banking

SunTrust Banks has provided a $1 million grant to the nonprofit group Operation Hope to expand financial counseling services for low-income consumers at banks across the country.

Global Debt Registry, a debt repository for storing and tracking consumer debt, announced it has secured $7 million in funding. The investment comes on the heels of a landmark year for the company.

While computers may have bested humans in chess and mutual fund management, loan underwriting is one area where men can still beat machines.

Citigroup, the third-largest U.S. bank, said profit tumbled 86 %, missing analysts' estimates after year-end trading slumped more than forecast.

Bank of America, the second-largest U.S. bank, said fourth-quarter profit fell 11% as revenue from fixed-income trading declined.

FS Card announced Thursday that Republic Bank & Trust in Louisville, Ky., will issue its new subprime credit card, which is scheduled to be launched this spring.

Wells Fargo has eased off the gas pedal in auto lending, as concerns about weakening industrywide credit standards continue to spread.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Wednesday it is seeking comment on a so-called "safe student account scorecard" that colleges could use to see how banks structure the fees, features and "sales tactics" of financial products to students before forming a partnership.

Commerce Bancshares in Kansas City, Mo., is delaying the release of its fourth-quarter results while external auditors complete a review of its procedures for establishing its loan-loss allowance.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Wednesday that it was seeking comment on a so-called "safe student account scorecard" that colleges could use to see how banks structure the fees, features and "sales tactics" of financial products to students before forming a partnership.

Plaza Bancorp in Irvine, Calif., has agreed to buy Manhattan Bancorp in El Segundo, Calif.

First BanCorp in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has created a new position to oversee strategic decisions.

Federal bank regulators will gather feedback on regulatory relief ideas at a public meeting on Feb. 4 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the agencies said Wednesday.

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon had to defend the company against calls to break it up, doubts about its ability to command higher prices and greater efficiency, and investor disappointment with fourth-quarter results.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced automated teller machines by 12% last quarter as the largest U.S. bank exited from some retail locations.

The Federal Reserve's regular economic snapshot showed a moderate but consistent increase in credit quality and demand for banking services nationwide, though the report noted that sources of demand were highly variable and major financial stresses remained in some regions.

In an era where businesses are increasingly focused on cloud computing, Citigroup is turning instead to souped-up hardware in the form of IBM's newest z13 mainframe, which it says can help it better deal with the explosive growth in mobile and online transactions.

The San Francisco bank stands to gain from stronger loan growth, but Wells may no longer be able to rely on releasing loss reserves as a source of profits. Compliance costs and energy market volatility add to the complicated 2015 outlook.

A federal agency's plan to tighten membership rules for Federal Home Loan banks would hurt community banks and credit unions — and could endanger the financial system, according to a broad array of stakeholders, including state regulators, lawmakers and institutions.

Wells Fargo saw more of its origination volume come from refinancings, while JPMorgan Chase continues to rebuild its correspondent channel, the banks said in their fourth-quarter results.