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Merger-related expenses took a nearly $6 million bite out of third-quarter earnings at Wintrust Financial in Rosemont, Ill., but its chief executive predicted several recently completed deals will pay off sooner than anticipated.

Zions Bancorp. in Salt Lake City posted stronger third-quarter earnings from lower costs and higher fee income. The $58.4 billion-asset company said in a press release Monday that its earnings rose 6% from a year earlier, to $84.2 million, or 41 cents a share.

M&T Bank in Buffalo, N.Y., reported a higher third-quarter profit as improved net interest income offset declines in trust services, deposit-account fees and mortgage banking.

Western Alliance Bancorp. in Phoenix posted a big increase in third-quarter profit, its first earnings statement after the acquisition of Bridge Bank.

Dollar Bank in Pittsburgh has named James McQuade its CEO-in-waiting. McQuade will succeed Robert Oeler on Nov. 1 as president of the $7.2 billion-asset mutual thrift, and then will become CEO some time next year, when Oeler retires from that position.

Morgan Stanley reported profit that missed analysts’ estimates as fixed-income trading revenue tumbled and investment-management fees dropped by more than half on an Asian private-equity loss.

Communities First Financial in Fresno, Calif., has a new chief executive.

Investar Holding in Baton Rouge, La., has made a series of changes to its executive ranks.

Acquisitions would seem to be a logical course of action for regional banks struggling to cut costs and boost revenues in the low interest rate environment, but some bank chief executives are less open to the idea than others as comments by the heads of First Horizon and SunTrust demonstrate.

Associated Banc-Corp in Green Bay, Wis., posted lower third-quarter profit, citing lower yields on earning assets.

The agency's staff is already working on a new regulation that would easing access to capital, an issue that makes bankers very nervous.

BofI Holding in San Diego is poised to end a tumultuous week, after a lawsuit accusing it of lax controls sent investors scurrying.

Webster Financial in Waterbury, Conn., reported a higher third-quarter profit on growth in deposit and loan fees related to its acquisition of health savings accounts.

Comerica in Dallas reported lower third-quarter profit that reflected higher expenses. The $71 billion-asset company said in a press release Friday that its net income fell 12% from a year earlier, to $134 million, or 74 cents a share.

First Horizon National Corp. reported a sharp increase in its third-quarter profit as an increase in average loans, lower overhead and a decrease in income tax payments helped to offset a 9% decline in total revenue.

Sound growth plans, not quirks of geography, define this year’s class of community bank all-stars.

SunTrust Banks in Atlanta reported a lower third-quarter profit, citing negative effects from the low interest rate environment.

PacWest Bancorp in Los Angeles reported a higher third-quarter profit, citing new lending and lower expenses.

The most international of the megabanks surprised analysts with a strong quarter Thursday, despite unrest in some of its distant markets. Citi execs see a slowdown coming in its emerging markets but say there is no reason to panic yet.

Profits fell at Commerce Bancshares in Kansas City, Mo., in the third quarter, as expenses rose and income from fees and certain securities holdings declined.