Financial institutions worldwide are exploring the possibilities for faster, cheaper, more transparent processing of global payments in near real time offered by distributed software solutions, including blockchains and distributed ledgers. Because this is a new field of study, these technologies are often misunderstood or mischaracterized.

Hancock Holding in Gulfport, Miss., reported lower second-quarter profit, citing higher incentive pay for employees and lower yields on both loans and securities.

City National Bank in Los Angeles said Thursday that its second-quarter profit rose 5% from the same period last year, driven by heavier demand for commercial loans.

Wells Fargo tapped the head of its wholesale services unit to lead a new research and development division.

National Penn Bancshares in Allentown, Pa., said its second-quarter profit improved as increased real estate lending offset higher expenses.

F.N.B. in Pittsburgh reported higher second-quarter profit as it booked more commercial real estate and business loans.

First Interstate BancSystem in Billings, Mont., will soon have a new chief executive.

A Senate committee approved legislation Thursday that would offer some protection from federal authorities to banks and credit unions doing business with state-authorized marijuana merchants.

Visa Inc. shares surged 7.5 percent after the world's biggest payments network said it expects to complete discussions over a potential deal to acquire Visa Europe Ltd. by the end of October.

Capital One Financial reported quarterly profit that fell well short of analysts' forecasts due to a high loan-loss provision, restructuring charges and a legal reserve in the United Kingdom.

JPMorgan Chase has renewed a partnership to offer co-branded credit cards with Southwest Airlines.

WASHINGTON — Student Financial Aid Services is facing more than $5.2 million in charges after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau alleged the company illegally signed up consumers for student financial assistance and proceeded to automatically bill them annually.

Tough competition for loans and ever-stronger credit quality has Discover CEO David Nelms considering a move down the credit spectrum toward more subprime consumers.

A lawsuit filed by Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring against B&B Pawnbrokers Inc. in Spotsylvania, Va. alleges the business has been making illegal, unlicensed motor vehicle title loans and charging excessive fees for them.

Ruth Porat wows investors in her first earnings call as Google's CFO while Marianne Lake moves a step closer to running JPMorgan's future calls. Elsewhere, Lynn Tilton bids to move her fraud trial to federal court, Janet Yellen hints at support for raising the SIFI bar and Obama gets ready to nominate another woman for Fed governor.

TCF Financial in Wayzata, Minn., reported lower second-quarter profit as it paid more in salaries and employee benefits and a larger loss provision ate into net interest income.

The SBA's popular 7(a) program has reached its maximum funding authority. Banks may have to decide on providing short-term aid to small businesses that face delays getting loans.

The $1.7 billion-asset First State expects its deal for $264 million-asset Central to close before the end of the year.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's new integrated disclosure regulations could pose problems for warehouse line providers along with their mortgage lender clients.

Renee Nash was named to the $155 million-asset bank's board Monday. Folsom Lake's board has varied in number over the years, between nine and 12 members. The bank currently has 10 directors.