Expense management

Chemical Financial's decision to shutter nearly 40 branches and cut more than 200 jobs is a result of improved technology and an effort to become more efficient after years of pursuing acquisitions.

The Michigan company said the branch closures will save it $20 million a year. It also plans to devote fewer resources to indirect auto, where returns have trailed other lending categories.

The Wisconsin company plans to shutter half of Bank Mutual's branches, including seven in Milwaukee.

The company says the tracking devices are a way to reduce office space and know when shared workstations are free, but "hot-desking" also raises questions about whether employees are being spied on.

After posting a second quarter of revenue growth and with plans to return another $2 billion of cash to investors, departing boss Stuart Gulliver’s six-year turnaround of HSBC Holdings might finally be gathering momentum.

The Louisiana company, which recorded a large loan-loss provision to cover energy-related chargeoffs, also disclosed a new regulatory order from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

The Rhode Island bank plans to build out its fee income capabilities, expand C&I lending in the Southeast, renegotiate vendor contracts and take other steps to produce expense cuts and revenue enhancements of at least $90 million.

The Cincinnati company reaped the benefit of the latest round of interest rate hikes, as a higher net interest margin and lower costs helped overcome the drop in lending.

The Cleveland company, once criticized for an initial six-year forecast, now believes it will only take four years to rebuild its tangible book value.

The regional bank reported an 8% gain in fee income and trimmed costs amid 1% loan growth.