Credit quality

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.

Bank of America is offloading some margin loans after losing $292 million on soured credit to the former chairman of Steinhoff International Holdings, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

The company received bad news about the commercial loan after it reported a narrow profit in mid-February.

The tax reform law passed late last year, which significantly cut the corporate tax rate, has been widely popular among banks, but a one-time hit to the value of their deferred tax assets was felt far and wide.

Stuart Gulliver’s final set of results at HSBC Holdings Plc weren’t quite the swansong he’d hoped for as he hands the reins over to his long-term lieutenant, John Flint.

After reporting its fourth-quarter earnings, the subprime auto lender said it expects the new tax law to enable more car owners to stay current on their loans.

The proposed legislation would give the agency authority to increase funding for the 7(a) program — with several caveats designed to manage exposure.

The proposed legislation would give the agency authority to increase funding for the 7(a) program — with several caveats designed to manage exposure.

David Nelms said that many digital lenders do not understand how to underwrite personal loans properly, and he took a dig at their lack of profitability. The upstarts say their industry's ability to attract capital speaks for itself.

Burned by a 2007 deal in Florida, Park National in Ohio had several years to reflect on lessons learned before agreeing to buy NewDominion Bank in Charlotte, N.C.

The results also included a large one-time benefit tied to recently passed tax reform.

The Arkansas company has spent two years trying to reassure nervous investors and analysts that it can rapidly book real estate loans using conservative practices.

The Arkansas company's net income topped $100 million for the first time, though it largely reflected the revaluation of its deferred tax liability.

In some ways the Canadian bank's U.S. consumer business is only now shaking off many of its crisis-era problems here. CEO Darryl White is pinning his retail-comeback hopes on a rejuvenated sales culture and a focus on more profitable customers.

High credit scores are good and low ones are bad -- but serving either sector comes with some unique challenges and opportunities. Here's what you need to know.