Credit quality

Many banks curtailed leveraged lending following the financial crisis, and for good reason. But we may be on the verge of a leveraged-loan comeback.

The era of exceptionally strong loan performance in the credit card business has come to an end, and the Riverwoods, Ill., firm is feeling the effects.

The Florida company relied on loan growth and loan sales to offset higher expenses and ongoing issues in its taxi medallion lending operations.

Zions beat expectations on several bits of good news, but it reported about $30 million of chargeoffs tied to a single commercial borrower.

The California company's credit issues eased some in the first quarter, though earnings were down from a year earlier due to charges tied to cost cutting and reductions in three loan categories.

The Wisconsin regional's profits rose 35% in the first quarter on healthy loan growth, wider margins and an improved efficiency ratio, and it said its "satisfactory" CRA rating had been restored.

At the heart of the push to roll back the Dodd-Frank Act are claims that the 2010 reform law is killing lending. But these assertions should be backed by data.

Huntington, Wintrust and Eagle reported extremely low quarterly chargeoff ratios, and their CEOs say they remain confident about the future. But, as one observer says, "ultimately some sector is going to get overextended."

Earnings at the Dallas-based company more than tripled because of a big improvement in credit quality, higher fee income and other factors.

The Memphis, Tenn., company also reported an improvement in credit quality during the first quarter.