Net interest margin

Total revenue rose less than 1% to $21.8 billion, but expenses declined 2.5% to $13.1 billion. That computed to the highest profit at Bank of America in six years.

An increase in corporate loans, the highest lending margin in four and a half years and record profit in asset management helped the lender top analysts’ estimates and offset trading and other challenges.

Profits rose 20% at the Texas bank, but net interest margin growth last quarter, and the bank’s margin outlook for the rest of this year, disappointed analysts and investors.

Just as pre-crisis success was illusory, so too might be expectations that banks could ever regain that type of profit growth again.

Net interest income rose 7% and margins widened 17 basis points at the Wayzata, Minn., company.

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

In a sign of broader competition ahead, bigger banks are raising the interest they pay on deposits held by business customers. The big question is how hard will it be for banks to maintain margins and to stave off consumer demands for better rates.

Net interest margins are on the rise and banks have the green light to return more capital to shareholders, but commercial lending and consumer credit quality remain trouble spots.