Lending is nothing to joke about these days, as a SunTrust Banks Inc. executive learned at the Risk Management Association's annual conference Monday.

SVB Financial Group's stock was up sharply Friday after the company reported third-quarter earnings that handily beat analysts' estimates.

Despite a rough economic forecast, panelists at a recent Risk Management Association conference believe they have found areas poised to thrive.

MB Financial Inc. in Chicago managed to produce a third-quarter profit after its credit costs fell dramatically, though shrinking revenue disappointed analysts.

But the Green Bay, Wisc., bank is finding new loans and employees thanks to the sale of rival M&I, Flynn says.

Prosperity Bancshares Inc. in Houston reported on Friday third-quarter income of $36.4 million, up about 13% from the same period a year earlier, due to strong loan growth and a decline in problem assets.

Third-party processors like Total System Services Inc. and First Data Corp., who help run credit card systems for banks, are anticipating new business from the renewed activity in the credit card M&A market.

Jack Barnes, the president and chief executive at People's United Bank in Bridgeport, Conn., said Thursday that $28 billion-asset has submitted an application to the OCC to switch from a federally chartered thrift to a national bank as part of a broader plan to bulk up in commercial lending.

As Occupy Wall Street gains national attention bashing bankers, it's giving a free ride to the 'Other 99%' who enjoy the perks of a nation living beyond its means.

Heitkamp to chair vocal Texas bank group, following in his father's footsteps.

Glacier Bancorp Inc. in Kalispell, Mont., said late Thursday that it intends to take a goodwill impairment charge of between $30 million and $35 million in the third quarter to reflect the recent decline in its market value.

Sandy Spring Bancorp Inc. in Olney, Md., said Thursday that its net income rose almost 33% from a year earlier, to $11.3 million.

Simmons First National Corp. in Pine Bluff, Ark., said Thursday that its third-quarter earnings fell 4% from a year earlier, to $7.3 million, due primarily to sharp drop in income from from the sale of student loans.

Taylor reported third-quarter earnings of $7.3 million following three quarters of losses. CEO Mark Hoppe said the company's credit costs are down and all of its growth engines are up and running.

Silicon Valley Bank said Thursday that it has received a key approval from a Chinese regulator to establish a joint venture bank in Shanghai.

Community banks must be as mindful of operational risk as their larger brethren. That was the message delivered at this year's Risk Management Association annual conference by Rick Parsons, who retired in August as an operational risk executive at Bank of America Corp.

Astoria Financial Corp.'s shares were down sharply at midday Thursday after the Lake Success, N.Y., lender reported a 48% drop in its third-quarter earnings.

The price First Financial paid to acquire Freestar is likely to encourage more prospective sellers.