Corporate finance

Increases in commercial real estate, C&I and municipal and state loans boosted fourth-quarter profit at the $13 billion-asset Trustmark.

Fifth Third and other regionals have ditched what they deem to be high-risk commercial loans in hopes of strengthening credit quality over the long term.

Cost control and improved credit were overshadowed by a big charge tied to a dispute with the FDIC.

Profits at the Midwestern bank fell on lower adjusted noninterest income and loans and on a one-time item.

Net income was also aided by a sharp drop in the provision for credit losses as chargeoffs on energy loans continued to decline.

Expanded lending across a broad range of categories and extremely low unemployment in Hawaii pushed up the Honolulu bank's quarterly profit.

The Stamford, Conn., credit card issuer reported net income of $576 million, up 5.3% from the same period a year earlier.

Quarterly profit fell at SunTrust Banks in Atlanta as noninterest expense rose 8.4% and its loan-loss provision increased.

Quarterly profit improved despite a spike in noninterest expenses.

Associated Banc-Corp in Green Bay, Wis., reported a sharp increase in profits on an 11% increase in noninterest income and on lower credit costs.

CEOs at several regionals have decided to sit on the sidelines so they can digest recent big acquisitions, while others are contemplating going for more deals provided they find lower-risk opportunities.

The Connecticut bank said a spike in business lending and residential mortgages gave its fourth-quarter earnings a boost.

American Express Co., the largest U.S. credit-card issuer by purchases, said fourth-quarter profit fell 8.2 percent as expenses exceeded analysts’ estimates and the firm set aside more money to cover bad loans.

Fourth-quarter profits at Wintrust Financial in Rosemont, Ill., climbed 54% to $54.6 million from a year earlier, helped largely by acquisitions and increases in mortgage banking and other fee income.

Commercial real estate loan growth and the Hudson City acquisition fueled fourth-quarter profit growth at M&T Bank in Buffalo, N.Y.

The New York bank weathered headwinds in its taxi-medallion portfolio to post double-digit growth in earnings and net interest income during the fourth quarter.

The Cleveland company also had a record quarter for its investment banking business.

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Profit surged at BB&T in Winston-Salem, N.C., during the fourth quarter, driven by various acquisitions and growth in business lending.

A 9% increase in interest revenue helped to offset relatively flat growth in fee revenue.