Corporate finance

The Cleveland-based parent company of KeyBank is forecasting net interest income growth of about 20% for 2025, even as it predicts that average loan balances will decline by low-to mid-single digits year-over- year.

The Indiana-based company grew fourth-quarter loans and profits in part because of an acquisition in Nashville, and it expects to bulk up further with a deal in Minnesota's Twin Cities that was among the largest announced in 2024.

Full-year revenue growth was 4%, surpassing the 3% to 3.5% guidance the firm gave in December. Charles Schwab expects revenue to increase by 13% to 15% this year.

The Providence, Rhode Island-based company launched its private bank in 2023 after a spate of bank failures left holes in the market. "It's not like I'm asking anybody to wait for delayed gratification," CEO Bruce Van Saun said Friday.

The Columbus, Ohio-based bank's profit more than doubled in the fourth quarter from a year ago, with solid growth in loans and deposits.

Commoditization of mortgages, plus technology that eases the refinance process, and the regulatory environment, all contributed to the decision.

The Alabama-based regional bank reported stronger earnings on a bump in capital markets fee revenue and lower expenses, but its total loans declined and its charge-offs increased. It expects only modest loan growth this year.

The super-regional bank plans to invest in talent, technology and certain locations in 2025, while keeping its expenses in check, to achieve the promise of the merger that created it, CEO Bill Rogers said.

The Connecticut-based bank outpaced the industry's muted loan growth last year. CEO John Ciulla said he expects further growth, citing business clients' "decidedly positive" bias.

After shoring up infrastructure following the scuttled TD Bank acquisition, the Memphis, Tennessee-based institution plans to focus more on mobile banking and new product innovation.

The nation's second-largest bank issued guidance that net interest income will reach up to $15.7 billion by next year's fourth quarter, a 7% increase.

The Pittsburgh-based company's fourth-quarter earnings increased more than 80% from the same period in 2023, beating analysts' expectations and leaving CEO Bill Demchak upbeat about 2025 prospects, though M&A likely remains off the table.

The investment banking giant has been the subject of regulatory probes regarding the way it vets prospective clients. So far, that's not driving away potential clients, executives say.

The $678 billion-asset bank highlighted its payments and investment management and trust business as fee generators in the recently ended quarter.

A midweek rally followed robust bottom-line results from JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and several other large banks. But further interest rate cuts may be needed to sustain momentum.

The bank is "very optimistic" that Trump will appoint financial regulators who are "more balanced" than current agency heads, CFO Daryl Bible said.

As Donald Trump returns to the White House, Goldman Sachs is looking forward to the "improving regulatory backdrop."

Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup, told analysts she's not going to sacrifice growth-related investments for short-term gains. "You shouldn't want me to do that," she said.

Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf validates some of the optimism, telling analysts he feels "really great about our progress." But he said executives "don't want to get ahead of ourselves."

The $4 trillion-asset bank posted its highest-ever annual profit but also said its CEO succession plan is still in the works.