Corporate finance

The New York-based bank, which works with many Democratic campaigns, faces investor concerns that it might be targeted by the Trump administration. CEO Priscilla Sims Brown says the bank's "strong profitability" is its best shield from political threats.

The Arkansas-based company spent nearly four years on the M&A sidelines, grappling with asset quality issues and litigation tied to its 2022 acquisition of Texas-based Happy State Bank. Now it's signed a letter of intent to buy an unnamed bank.

Boston-based Eastern Bankshares is focused on organic growth, but it would "evaluate the opportunity" for M&A if a deal presents itself, its CEO said Friday. The comments came four days after an activist investor criticized the bank's recent M&A transactions.

The Long Island-based bank hasn't been profitable in eight quarters, but executives maintain that it's on the right path, citing more loan book diversity, lower expenses and an improved margin.

The Richmond, Virginia-based bank expects to build 10 branches in Raleigh and Wilmington, North Carolina, over the next three years. M&A is on the back burner as the company also works to capitalize on its recent acquisition of Sandy Spring Bank in Maryland, CEO John Asbury said.

The North Carolina bank is the latest lender impacted by the bankruptcy of U.S. auto parts maker First Brands. First Citizens executives said credit was in good shape overall.

The credit card issuer added two programs with home goods retailers Raymour and Flanigan and Bed Bath and Beyond during the quarter while also increasing its stock buyback allocation and dividend payouts.

The company is leveraging its bank charter and strong customer acquisition, with app logins up nearly 50% from borrowers.

The Dallas-based regional bank's return on average assets exceeded its goal of 1.1% for the first time, coming in at 1.3% for the third quarter. The bank has been in transformation mode since 2021.

An apparent increase in large-scale borrower fraud and the hot environment for bank mergers were the key themes as banks discussed their third-quarter results.