Performance reports

Synovus Financial in Columbus, Ga., posted higher quarterly earnings as its loan-loss provision continued to decline.

Some banks appear to be aggressively pursuing loan growth at the expense of profits these days. But banks like M&T and Westamerica say they are slowing things down, hoping the caution will translate into better credit quality in the long run.

A slump in Zions Bancorp.'s noninterest income caused the Salt Lake City company to report lower quarterly earnings.

M&T Bank in Buffalo, N.Y., reported an increase in its first-quarter profit on the strength of higher mortgage banking revenue, but its results fell well short of analysts’ estimates as loan growth failed to meet expectations.

SunTrust Banks in Atlanta reported higher first-quarter profit as stronger fee income and lower expenses helped offset a drop in income from lending.

Comerica reported strong loan growth across many of its business lines in the first quarter, but it's the bank's exposure to the energy sector that continues to draw the most attention from analysts and investors.Energy-Related Exposure Surfaces in Pacwest's Earnings.

Associated Banc-Corp in Green Bay, Wis., reported a 3.4% increase in profits in the first quarter as fee-income and loan growth helped offset lower margins and higher expenses.

First Horizon National in Memphis, Tenn., swung to a first-quarter loss after it paid $212.5 million to settle an investigation into its pre-crisis mortgage dealings.

People's United Financial in Bridgeport, Conn., reported higher first-quarter profit on higher lending fees and gains on the sale of loans.

Sandy Spring Bancorp, in Olney, Md., reported an increase in quarterly profit because of an increase in mortgage revenue.

Citigroup faced many of the same earnings headwinds as other large banks — lower revenue and lending — but still surprised observers with a strong first quarter Thursday. Its North American consumer business was a big reason why.

Webster Financial in Waterbury, Conn., reported lower first-quarter profit as costs from adding personnel and an acquisition weighed on results.

Strategic acquisitions in payments and investment banking helped the Cleveland company absorb compressed margins and lackluster results elsewhere. Management also vowed to keep cutting costs, including ongoing efforts to pare back its branch network.

Wintrust Financial in Rosemont, Ill., reported first-quarter earnings of $39.1 million, up 13% from a year earlier, as loans increased and mortgage revenue rose.

Home BancShares in Conway, Ark., reported higher first-quarter profit and assets after it acquired branches and loans from the failed Doral Bank in Puerto Rico.

PacWest Bancorp reported higher quarterly profit, as loan growth and lower expenses offset credit issues in the Los Angeles company's energy portfolio.

First Republic Bank reported higher quarterly profit, though loan growth pushed the San Francisco company above $50 billion in assets.

KeyCorp in Cleveland reported a drop in first-quarter earnings as expenses and its provision for loan losses crept up.

Goldman Sachs Group reported first-quarter earnings that beat analysts' estimates as the firm posted a bigger increase in revenue from trading debt, commodities and currencies than its rivals and the highest merger-advisory revenue since the financial crisis.

Citigroup boosted profit more than analysts estimated after a cost-cutting push helped it weather a slump in trading.