Finance

Los Angeles-based City National Bank recorded a $247 million loss during a tumultuous final quarter of its fiscal year. But executives at the bank's Canadian parent company say they expect a return to profitability in the first quarter.

The Canadian bank reported a 70% decline in profits at its U.S. commercial banking and wealth management unit in the most recent quarter and boosted reserves amid distress in the commercial real estate market.

The move gives stockholders a greater portion of recurring, predictable income as private equity asset sales stagnate due to higher interest rates and jitters over a potential recession. In exchange, the firms' dealmakers will get a bigger slice of the gains when their investments pay off.

Total loans at U.S. banks with less than $10 billion of assets grew by 1.9% in the third quarter, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data. That was a slowdown from the previous quarter, and concerns about the viability of commercial real estate lending could dampen activity further.

The BSBY interest rate benchmark was originally envisioned as a successor to the once-ubiquitous Libor rate. But it failed to gain much traction, and Bloomberg now plans to shut it down next year.

The move by the company's new CEO is designed to promote greater network effects and benefits for paying members. Bank CEOs say the network helps smaller banks compete.

In Canada and the U.K., borrowers can take mortgages with them from home to home. Some say this feature could unlock the U.S. housing market, but others say it would be more trouble than it's worth.

Capping interest rates may be popular with consumers, and ultimately voters, but doing so would actually hurt those advocates are trying to help.

A national interest rate cap of 36% would protect consumers from predatory practices that exploit their desperation and would level the playing field with responsible lenders who offer fair and transparent products.

Young adults exiting the foster care system often lack the documents and relationships they need to engage with financial products early on. Some advocates, including many in the Texas Legislature, are working to change that.