Hancock Holding in Gulfport, Miss., reported a sharp rise in third-quarter profit, reflecting efforts to cut costs.

First Niagara Financial Group in Buffalo, N.Y., reported a massive quarterly loss that had a number of large writedowns.

City National in Los Angeles reported higher third-quarter earnings, due to a sharp rise in trust and brokerage revenue.

BSB Bancorp in Belmont, Mass., reported that its third-quarter earnings more than doubled from a year earlier on higher net interest income.

Most of the securitized single-family market is currently exempt, but only a tiny part of the commercial equivalent is. However, nonexempt commercial will get more expensive to issue, and the single-family exemption could change.

City Holding in Charleston, W.Va., reported lower quarterly earnings.

Metro Bank of Harrisburg, Pa., which is facing a challenge from an activist investor, posted higher quarterly earnings.

CVB Financial in Ontario, Calif., reported a slight uptick in third-quarter earnings after loans and expenses increased from its acquisition of American Security Bank.

Sun Bancorp in Mount Laurel, N.J. reported a quarterly loss as it continues to shrink its balance sheet.

Peapack-Gladstone Financial in Bedminster, N.J., could raise up to $50 million by selling stock.

Bank United in Miami Lakes, Fla., reported lower quarterly profit as declining yields offset a rapidly expanding loan portfolio.

State Bank Financial in Atlanta more than doubled quarterly earnings on gains from acquisitions and noninterest income.

United Community Banks in Blairsville, Ga., reported higher quarterly profit that benefited from loan growth and a stable net interest margin.

Columbia Banking System in Tacoma, Wash., reported higher quarterly profits that featured lower costs.

The price of crude oil has fallen 25% in four months, but banks most closely tied to the energy industry aren't worried. They say risk-mitigation strategies make a bust unlikely, and it would take a severe and prolonged slump to hurt credit quality.

Chemical Financial in Midland, Mich., reported a higher profit thanks to double-digit loan growth and credit-quality improvements.

United Financial Bancorp in Glastonbury, Conn., saw its profits surge in the first full quarter after merging with Rockville Financial.

Susquehanna Bancshares in Lititz, Pa., reported lower quarterly profit after its net interest margin compressed.

Peoples Financial reported a quarterly loss after two bad loans put a crater in the Biloxi, Miss., company's bottom line.

Heartland Financial USA in Dubuque, Iowa, has agreed to buy Community Banc-Corp of Sheboygan in Wisconsin.