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Solid loan and deposit growth propelled East West Bancorp to double-digit profit gains in the first quarter.

A narrowing net interest margin left little room for error, but it still proved more than enough for Huntington Bancshares. Tight expense control, continued solid asset quality and strong deposit growth helped the Columbus, Ohio-based bank post an 11% increase in first-quarter net income.

Citizens Financial Group in Providence, R.I., reported a 26% increase in quarterly profit thanks to robust lending and lower costs for bad loans.

United Community Banks in Blairsville, Ga., has agreed to buy Palmetto Bancshares in Greenville, S.C.

Pinnacle Financial Partners in Nashville, Tenn., reported higher first-quarter profit on strong lending results.

Fulton Financial in Lancaster, Pa., reported lower first-quarter profit on a decline in net interest income and higher expenses.

Discover Financial Services reported a 7% drop in quarterly earnings on Tuesday, driven by rising expenses, a growing loss provision and shrinking yields in its flagship credit card business.

Customers are dodging deposit fees by hanging onto their extra cash and using apps to more frequently check their balances, denying banks crucial noninterest income.

Arrow Financial in Glens Falls, N.Y., reported a double-digit profit increase in the first quarter as strong loan growth in its three major business lines helped to offset flat noninterest income and higher expense.

During Monday's first-quarter earnings call, Zions executives took a moment to thank — and tease — CFO Doyle Arnold before he retires.

S&T Bancorp in Indiana, Pa., reported better-than-expected earnings in the first quarter as income from loans it inherited in its acquisition of Integrity Bancshares helped to offset higher merger-related expenses.

The Georgia company has been cutting costs, while reinvesting funds in new businesses and technology. While the moves are doing little to increase near-term return on assets, they could help Synovus improve its longer-term performance.

Online and mobile payment giant PayPal announced two major additions to its leadership.

Higher-than-expected revenue growth and improved asset quality propelled Northern Trust Corp. to strong profit gains in the quarter that ended March 31.

Cost and margin pressures drove down quarterly profits at Regions Financial in Birmingham, Ala.

The first quarter was another banner one for Signature Bank in New York, which reported record net income of $83.4 million, topping its 2014 first-quarter results by 26%.

TCF Financial in Wayzata, Minn., reported lower profits because of a decline in fee income and flat performance in its loan book.

Fifth Third Bancorp in Cincinnati reported higher first-quarter profit as higher fee income and lower expenses offset a decline in net interest income.

Synovus Financial in Columbus, Ga., posted higher quarterly earnings as its loan-loss provision continued to decline.

Some banks appear to be aggressively pursuing loan growth at the expense of profits these days. But banks like M&T and Westamerica say they are slowing things down, hoping the caution will translate into better credit quality in the long run.