Commercial banking

Net income climbed 13% as as the Fed's hike improved loan yields and the stock market’s surge boosted returns from PNC’s stake in BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager.

First-quarter revenue at the scandal-plagued bank missed analysts’ estimates as profit fell in the lender’s troubled retail bank and expenses climbed.

The Memphis, Tenn., company also reported an improvement in credit quality during the first quarter.

Citigroup Inc. generated the most revenue from fixed-income trading in three years, defying some analysts’ concerns about a slowdown in interest rate and currency activity during the first quarter.

JPMorgan Chase posted earnings that beat analysts’ estimates, fueled by better-than-expected trading revenue and lending margins.

Bank earnings could be hurt this year as big retailers close stores and file for bankruptcy. The situation has sparked a debate about how much CRE and C&I books will suffer just as lenders were putting other commercial woes behind them.

Specialization — either in types of customers, lines of business or distinct geographies — is one of the best ways for small banks to outdo larger rivals that rely on scale to make money.

Business confidence remains high, but Fed data shows commercial borrowing actually decelerated during the first quarter. Fortunately for banks, rate hikes have fattened margins.

Texas Capital ties bankers’ bonuses to loan performance instead of volume. The strategy has aided recruitment and helped the bank achieve exceptional loan growth while keeping credit quality respectable.

The Buffalo, N.Y., company is filling gaps created when Mark Czarnecki, its former president, died in February after a battle with pancreatic cancer.