Fees from residential refinancings propelled Sandy Spring Bancorp (SASR) in Olney, Md., in the first quarter.

BB&T announced Thursday that it earned $210 million in the first quarter, compared with $431 million a year earlier, as it took a $281 million charge related to a tax dispute with the Internal Revenue Service.

KeyCorp (KEY) posted double-digit growth in its commercial and industrial loan portfolio and its earnings rose in the first quarter.

But large banks have narrowed the gap as they have made a more concerted effort to better explain their fee structures to disgruntled customers.

ABERDEEN, Md. – APG FCU, formerly Aberdeen Proving Grounds FCU, will open two loan centers in Cecil County next month, in Elk Mills and Rising Sun.

Steve Antonakes, the No.2 at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, spent an hour with bankers on Wednesday attempting to ease concerns about impending mortgage rules and the examinations that will follow.

Astoria Financial (AF) in Lake Success, N.Y., boosted its quarterly profit nearly 40% by reining in costs.

U.S. Bancorp (USB) is about to add a service for Somali immigrants in the U.S.

Umpqua Holdings (UMPQ) in Portland, Ore., missed its quarterly earnings expectations because of margin pressure.

American Express (AXP) on Wednesday reported earnings of $1.3 billion in the first quarter of the year, aided by aggressive cost-control efforts and by high repayment rates on its credit cards.

Fee income lifted first-quarter profits at Wintrust Financial (WTFC) in Rosemont, Ill.

Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) will pay $16 million to settle long-standing charges that it misled investors about its financial condition on the eve of the mortgage meltdown.

Shore Bancshares (SHBI) in Easton, Md., has tapped a company veteran to become its chief executive.

Boston Private Financial Holdings (BPFH) plans to buy back all of the preferred stock held by its largest investor, the Carlyle Group, for approximately $70 million.

Democratic lawmakers raised numerous concerns Wednesday over the mortgage servicer settlement announced in January, including how banks are credited for relief they provide to borrowers.

Huntington has enjoyed undeniable success in attracting new customers, but a big question for investors is when that growth in new households will translate into meaningful revenue growth.

The Pittsburgh company's incoming chief executive, Bill Demchak, promised to follow the strategy laid out by current CEO Jim Rohr and avoid a race to the bottom for commercial loans.

Roughly 91% of the mortgages Bank of America funded in the first quarter were refinances — spelling peril if the refi boom peters out, as is expected.

Demand for credit by consumers and businesses continued to show signs of gradual improvement as homeowners looked to refinance their homes and buy new cars, according to a survey released by the Federal Reserve Board on Wednesday.

Community Trust Bancorp (CTBI) in Pikeville, Ky., reported flat earnings for the first quarter as higher costs offset an increase in fee income.