Finance

Several regional banks have projected minimal growth or even a decline in lending this year. But Connecticut-based Webster is bullish based on its pipeline of nonoffice commercial real estate, public finance and other credits, CEO John Ciulla says.

The Indiana bank is "on offense by continuing to invest in new client-facing and key support talent and being ready and opportunistic for acquisitions," CEO Jim Ryan says.

The former treasurer of FMC Corp. worries that the proposed new capital rules will translate into higher costs for corporate borrowers and reduced access to key types of financing options.

The Columbus, Ohio-based bank expects to hike expenses by about 4.5% this year as it ramps up investments in geographic areas and specialty banking verticals where it sees growth opportunities.

The expansion program, entering its sixth year, gives the Cincinnati-based company a regional profile few of its competitors can match, CEO Tim Spence said on a conference call with analysts.

Industry recruiters see the changes as intended to make client assets and advisory teams "stickier" and to retain executive talent.

Investors drove up the stock prices of both companies after Ally Financial said it's selling its point-of-sale lending business to Synchrony Financial. The deal is expected to help Ally focus on its bread-and-butter auto lending business, while also aiding Synchrony's efforts to gain market share.

The Alabama bank's executives said commercial borrowers remain cautious amid high rates and economic uncertainty. During the fourth quarter, flat lending and higher deposit costs weighed down the company's net interest income.

"Someone somewhere has not taken a victory lap for the work that has been done to rehabilitate the enterprises." Priscilla Almodovar said in a Bloomberg interview.

The Cleveland-based regional bank was not well positioned for the sharp rise in interest rates last year. But executives say the year ahead will be different, pointing to strong credit quality and a repricing of Key's securities portfolio.

The Dallas bank's full-year results showed progress toward its long-term strategic goals despite a fourth-quarter drop-off in net interest income heavily tied to its mortgage business, executives said on an earnings call.

Despite a surge in quarterly expenses in the fourth quarter and a projected uptick in the first quarter, the North Carolina company is standing by its expense guidance for 2024.

Fourth-quarter net income at the Buffalo, New York, bank fell 37% because of higher funding costs and a special deposit insurance assessment. But lower interest rates and a stronger economy are expected to strengthen profits this year and into 2025, its CFO says.

A sharp increase in credit card account write-offs, a slowdown in consumer spending and heavy compliance costs triggered a 62% decline in fourth-quarter earnings.

The acting comptroller of the currency said regulators should give "serious consideration" to enacting a rule requiring banks to have enough assets pledged to the Federal Reserve's discount window to cover "ultra short term, acute outflows."

After the Rhode Island-based company eliminated 650 positions, severance-related costs contributed to a 71% decline in quarterly net income.

The Minneapolis company's balance sheet is still feeling the weight of higher funding costs, but CEO Andrew Cecere gave several reasons why he anticipates revenue growth will begin to outpace noninterest expense growth and efficiency will improve after midyear.

The Wall Street giant did a lot of backtracking last year, abandoning its plans to become a bank for everyone. Now it's refocusing on growing its tried-and-true businesses of dealmaking and asset management.

The Pittsburgh-based regional bank reported a jump in soured commercial and consumer credits during the fourth quarter. Still, PNC executives said the company is appropriately reserved for a mild recession.

Two weeks after Ted Pick rose to CEO, the company slightly revised its long-term targets for efficiency, return on tangible common equity and other metrics. Yet, Pick says, "there's not a change in strategy" after the departure of his predecessor, James Gorman.