Fifth Third, Huntington and KeyCorp all meet or beat earnings estimates, but in conference calls with analysts Thursday their executives were cautious about their growth prospects for the second half of the year.

U.S. Bancorp CEO Richard Davis' lack of interest in bank deals, and enthusiasm for M&A opportunities in the payments business, are signs of the times.

First Republic Bank's shares surged Thursday after the San Francisco lender reported a 16% rise in quarterly profit, driven by investment-advisor revenue.

Dodd-Frank spurred many mutual banks to convert to stock ownership. Now these well-capitalized, strategically located institutions are approaching the end of the three-year probationary period before they can be sold.

These banks have money to spend, strong stocks and a stated goal of expansion through M&A. Look for them to buy a bank this year or early next year. After all, dealmaking takes time.

PrivateBancorp (PVTB) in Chicago reported a jump in quarterly income as costs associated with soured loans and foreclosed properties fell sharply.

Fifth Third Bancorp said second-quarter profit rose 58% as lending and fee income grew and the bank posted a gain from selling a stake in Vantiv Inc.

Customers are putting their cash to work, or at least taking it out of the bank, and bankers like U.S. Bancorp CEO Richard Davis think that could signal higher demand for loans down the road.

Strong gains in asset-management fees and a variety of one-time benefits helped offset a dip in interest income at the Pittsburgh bank. Its CEO says to look for more of the same in the second half of the year — and not to expect it to buy another bank.

M&T, in Buffalo, N.Y., is still comfortable with its decision to acquire the mortgage lender even though a recent rise in mortgage rates could crimp Hudson City's profits.

Bond Street Holdings in Weston, Fla., has found a backup M&A target after its deal for Atlantic Coast Financial fell through.

Wintrust Financial Corp. in Rosemont, Ill., reported a rise in second-quarter profit thanks to higher fee income and lower interest costs.

Equifax Workforce Solutions, an arm of credit reporting agency Equifax Inc., will help verify the incomes of people who apply for federal subsidies to buy insurance under the new health care law.

Robert Wahlman will become CFO of the $3.8 billion-asset company and its bank on Aug. 13, Customers announced Tuesday.

Florida Community Bank in Naples is partnering with Raymond James Financial (RJF) to offer its customers asset management services.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group has created a holding company to oversee the North and South American operations of its two subsidiaries: Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, based in New York City, and Union Bank, based in San Francisco.

Competition for large corporate loans is as intense as ever and, until it eases, the Dallas bank is content to let its middle-market lending drive profits.

Capital One Financial Corp. (COF) is in talks to take about 250,000 square feet of offices at the UBS Building on Manhattan's Park Avenue.

Hedge funds have beaten the FDIC in a series of legal disputes over the assets of bankrupt holding companies, exposing a serious flaw in the regulator's system for recovering value from failed institutions.

Reliance Financial Corp. in Atlanta has agreed to buy the trust and asset management business of Grand Bank and Trust of Florida in West Palm Beach.