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Higher compensation and credit costs drove down quarterly profits at Fifth Third Bancorp in Cincinnati, offsetting revenue gains.

Citizens Financial Group in Providence, R.I., said Thursday that its first-quarter earnings increased 7% from the same period last year, to $223 million, as strong commercial loan growth offset a dip in fee income. Earnings per share increased 8%, to 41 cents.

BancorpSouth in Tupelo, Miss., posted lower earnings, in part because of costs from a possible settlement of allegations related to its fair-lending practices.

For years, banks in the Midwest looked beyond the region to increase revenue and profit. Today, the area is starting to bounce back, allowing many of those banks to thrive by focusing on their core markets.

Banc of California in Irvine is expanding its commercial bank by starting units specializing in health care, municipals and nonprofit banking.

Richard Davis, the Minneapolis bank's CEO, is defending his decision to charge a fee for real-time payments. The move will allow it to earn back the cost of investment and prevent consumers from thinking of the bank as "a utility," he says.

Diamond CU supports local Reading Olympics and other great things credit unions are doing in their communities.

M&T Bank in Buffalo, N.Y., has expanded the job responsibilities of René Jones, its chief financial officer and vice chairman, while at the same time naming a new CFO.

Loan growth, primarily in its New York market, drove BankUnited's profit higher in the first quarter. Net income at the $25 billion-asset Miami Lakes, Fla., company rose 18% to $54.9 million from a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 16% to 51 cents.

Recent steps by New York Community Bancorp to lower its borrowing costs paid off last quarter in higher net interest income and profits.

Huntington Bancshares in Columbus, Ohio, withstood issues in its energy portfolio to report higher quarterly profit.

U.S. Bancorp in Minneapolis on Wednesday reported lower profits, thanks to higher costs and further deterioration in the company’s energy portfolio.

Signature Bank in New York reported record profits in the first quarter as strong loan, asset and deposit growth more than offset increased expenses and deterioration in its portfolio of taxi-medallion loans.

MB Financial in Chicago said its first-quarter profit rose 15.6% from a year earlier as fee income rose and expenses fell.

Profit declined at Fulton Financial in Lancaster, Pa., in the first quarter, as broad-based loan growth was offset by a drop in noninterest income.

Hancock Holding in Gulfport, Miss., reported a steep drop in quarterly earnings that reflected ongoing energy woes.

Discover Financial Services reported higher loan growth in its flagship credit-card business during the first quarter, reversing a trend that the company's leaders had vowed to address.

After another disappointing quarter, Comerica is promising big changes in its ongoing quest to improve returns to shareholders. It appears to be considering all options, including selling off business lines and perhaps even merging with another institution.

Community Bank in Pasadena, Calif., said Tuesday that it has named Lyle Knight, a former CEO of First Interstate BancSystem in Billings, Mont., to its board.

Several small and midsize banks generated large year-over-year loan growth despite a belief by some outsiders that a slowdown was looming. Bankers may have to spend coming months assuring investors that they can keep booking loans while adequately managing risk.