Credit quality

CIT took a $22 million hit on a business loan, and overall loan growth was tepid.

The Utah company reduced the size of its loan-loss allowance, citing improvement in its energy book at minimal losses from Hurricane Harvey.

First Personal Bank in Illinois tried — and failed — to sell itself three times. The bank finally found an eager buyer after tackling several lingering problems.

The Los Angeles bank also benefited from a reduced reliance on costlier certificates of deposit.

A $135 million increase in litigation expenses related to its 2011 acquisition of Wilmington Trust overshadowed a wider net interest margin and improved credit quality for the Buffalo, N.Y., company in the first quarter.

Bank’s earnings report notes possible $1 billion in fines; loan-loss accounting rule will be rolled out over three years.

The bank revealed Friday that it is facing hefty regulatory penalties and will likely have to restate first-quarter earnings. Declines in loan balances and fee income and questions about upcoming stress tests are only adding to investors' worries.

Investors are growing worried about lackluster loan growth this year at community banks.

Renasant is requiring Brand Group to sell $55 million in classified loans before closing the deal, while attaching an incentive for the seller to get as much as possible for those sales.

Some investors fear BBVA is taking a big risk by getting into unsecured personal lending long after online lenders have established themselves, but bank officials argue the bank’s cost of funds and in-depth knowledge of its customers will help it to outdo the competition.