Banking

American Banker readers share their views on the most pressing banking topics of the week. As excerpted from the Comments sections of AmericanBanker.com articles.

National Penn Bancshares (NPBC) in Allentown, Pa., swung to a profit in the first quarter thanks to commercial loan growth and one-time factors that offset lower mortgage banking revenue.

Astoria Financial (AF) in Lake Success, N.Y., reported higher quarterly profit aided by state income tax breaks.

MasterCard has entered an agreement to buy Pinpoint Pty. Ltd., a Sydney, Australia-based provider of loyalty and rewards services in the Asia Pacific region.

Consumers can now use Lending Club to pay for schooling or elective medical procedures.

People's United Financial (PBCT) in Bridgeport, Conn., reported late Wednesday steady first quarter results, characterized by loan growth and improved asset quality, the same day it disclosed a succession plan for its chief financial officer.

First Horizon National (FHN) used a gain from the sale of mortgage servicing rights to offset declines in revenue and fee income.

A report on student loan debt suggests that borrowing by people in graduate and professional degree programs is rising and could total a larger-than-expected portion of the nation’s $1 trillion in total outstanding federal student loans.

A federal judge approved a class-action settlement against a law firm and collection agency for alleged Fair Debt Collection Practices Act violations.

Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) said a drop in the value of a payments subsidiary, and higher legal costs, led to a 25% year-over-year drop in its quarterly profit.

Wal-Mart's new "Walmart-2-Walmart" transfer service will enable consumers to send money to each other by using the retail chain's store network.

PrivateBancorp (PVTB) in Chicago beat quarterly earnings estimates as its lending revenue and credit quality continued to improve.

The Cleveland company reported earnings of $236 million, up more than 18% from a year earlier. Earnings per share of 27 cents beat analysts' estimates polled by Bloomberg by three cents.

Webster Financial Corp. (WBS) in Waterbury, Conn., reported solid first-quarter results thanks to a surge in commercial lending.

BB&T (BBT) in Winston-Salem, N.C., narrowly missed Wall Street's first-quarter expectations because of sluggish loan growth.

William Young, the founding chief executive officer of Virginia Partners Bank in Fredericksburg, Va., will retire on June 30.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, plans to start a money transfer business as it works to provide customers with more financial services.

JPMorgan Chase digital chief Gavin Michael, who joined the firm a year ago, has a certain disdain for some competitors' staid mobile-banking apps. So when it came time for the bank to update its app, Michael said he studied software produced by technology startups.

Hancock Holding (HBHC) in Gulfport, Miss., reported higher quarterly earnings after it aggressively cut costs.

American Express' joint travel venture may get delayed as it awaits regulatory approval, CFO Jeff Campbell told investors Jan 16.