Some regional banks reported strong loan growth in the third quarter and are upbeat about the fourth. Others had a weak summer and expect this quarter to be the same. All claim their lending practices are sound and that rivals are taking risks. It doesn't add up.

PrivateBancorp (PVTB) in Chicago posted stronger earnings because of cost-cutting.

Huntington Bancshares’s efforts are paying off. It finally reached a 2013 goal of achieving positive operating leverage by cutting jobs, closing branches and reducing marketing and legal expenses.

Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) in Cincinnati reported a 16% rise in quarterly earnings thanks to improvements in credit quality and gains from its gradual divestiture of a payments subsidiary.

East West Bancorp (EWBC) in Pasadena, Calif., reported a small rise in quarterly profit because of loan growth.

Delanco Bancorp in New Jersey has completed its conversion to a fully public company.

Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) followed the lead of other banks and cut about 200 jobs amid a slowdown in residential mortgage lending.

M&T Bank (MTB) in Buffalo reported flat quarterly earnings that still meet Wall Street’s expectations.

BB&T reported lower quarterly earnings, as a large tax adjustment overshadowed the Winston-Salem, N.C., company's struggles to boost net interest income.

Astoria Financial (AF) in Lake Success, N.Y., posted a higher third-quarter profit as improved credit quality more than offset lower mortgage revenue.

Umpqua Holdings (UMPQ) in Portland, Ore., posted lower quarterly earnings after mortgage-related fees fell.

PNC, U.S. Bancorp and KeyCorp all reported loan growth of at least 5% in the third quarter as they focused heavily on strengthening customer relationships and reaped the benefits of expansion into new markets or business lines. Still, revenue and other challenges remain.

Valley Financial (VYFC) in Roanoke, Va., has exited the Troubled Asset Relief Program after issuing $11 million in subordinated debt to an unnamed accredited investor.

Lenders continued to face headwinds in the third quarter as consumer loan demand weakened slightly in some parts of the country while others saw a small boost, according to a Federal Reserve Board report released Wednesday.

Quarterly revenue rose at Community Trust Bancorp (CTBI) in Pikeville, Ky., as its loans and fee income grew.

The chief executive of Banco Popular, Richard Carrión, (BPOP) has resigned from his roles on the International Olympic Committee.

Quarterly profit fell at Westamerica Bancorp (WABC) in San Rafael, Calif., on weaker loan revenue.

Fraud against the elderly is expected to rise as the nation's baby boomers near retirement. Bankers and regulators are keen on trying to get ahead of the issue.

Pinnacle Financial (PNFP) in Nashville, Tenn., reported a strong third quarter on steady loan growth.

Bank of New York Mellon Corp., the world's largest custody bank, said third-quarter profit unexpectedly rose, helped by a tax court decision.