Loan growth, bigger trading gains, and additional interest income from a first-quarter acquisition helped BancFirst in Oklahoma City beat third-quarter earnings estimates.

First Financial Bankshares in Abilene, Texas reported higher third-quarter profits than a year earlier, driven by strong performance from its loan portfolio.

First Horizon National in Memphis, Tenn., beat analysts' estimates for a second consecutive quarter, posting net income of $45 million — 19 cents a share — paced by strong revenue growth and continued improvement in credit quality.

Comerica in Dallas reported broad loan and deposit growth in the third quarter, increasing net income 4%, to $154 million, from a year earlier.

People's United Financial in Bridgeport, Conn., said solid growth in commercial and mortgage loans drove third-quarter net income up 5% to $61.6 million, or 21 cents per share.

First Niagara Financial in Buffalo, N.Y., plans to close 17 branches and two drive-through locations in January.

Congress and banking agencies should seize the opportunity to eliminate unnecessary and outdated requirements.

Associated Banc-Corp in Green Bay, Wis., produced strong loan growth and other results in the third quarter that analysts said outshone some of its peers.

Wintrust Financial in Rosemont, Ill., reported third-quarter earnings of $40.2 million, as increases in interest and fee income were partially offset by heavier expenses.

The $1.1 billion-asset Starion did not disclose the terms of its deal for WPS Community, a federally chartered thrift with $98 million in assets.

AmericanWest is buying Bank of Sacramento for $60 million in cash. Although the deal was being negotiated well before the recent market sell-off, it serves as a good example of the comfort of a fixed cash price.

The lackluster earnings season for regional banks continued. Executives at Fifth Third and BB&T shared concerns about margin shrinkage and other forces beyond their control, and they provided contrasts in expense control and management of interest rate uncertainty.

Acquisitions buoyed third-quarter earnings at Home BancShares in Conway, Ark. The $7.2 billion-asset company reported Thursday that it earned $27.4 million, up roughly 49% from a year earlier.

Capital Bank Financial Corp. in Coral Gables, Fla., reported higher third quarter earnings driven by lower expenses and asset quality improvements.

Sandy Spring Bancorp in Olney, Md., posted lower third-quarter earnings as expenses rose and net interest income declined.

Webster Financial in Waterbury, Conn., reported an increase in quarterly profit on the strength of its loan growth.

PrivateBancorp in Chicago reported higher earnings in the third quarter primarily thanks to loan growth.

BB&T in Winston-Salem, N.C., reported higher quarterly earnings despite flat revenue.

Profits at Umpqua Holdings in Portland, Ore., rose in the third quarter, on gains from its recent acquisition of Sterling Financial.

Patriot National Bancorp in Stamford, Conn., will recognize a one-time gain of $16.6 million in third quarter profits, due to the partial reversal of its valuation allowance for deferred tax assets.