Performance reports

Northern Trust’s success in attracting new trust and investment management clients helped to boost its third-quarter profit.

Profit improved at M&T Bank in the third quarter as the Buffalo, N.Y., company expanded commercial and mortgage lending and completed the sale of a large investment-securities portfolio.

BB&T in Winston-Salem, N.C., rode recent acquisitions to a record profit in the third quarter.

Profits at U.S. Bancorp held steady in the third quarter as the Minneapolis company on Wednesday reported a mix of both higher fees and salary-related costs.

Banc of California, the lender that's paying $100 million to sponsor a soccer stadium, rose in early trading Wednesday after moving up its quarterly earnings release following a report by an anonymous short seller that caused the shares to plunge a day earlier.

Its loan-loss provision increased largely due to energy-related loans, but Hancock Holding in Gulfport, Miss., still reported higher third-quarter profits. Lower expenses and an increase in lending for healthcare, equipment finance and mortgages were the main reasons.

Remember how commercial and industrial lending was a hot item in the first half of the year? Not anymore. Blame election-year blues and a regulatory crackdown on CRE, regional bank executives said. The good news is that the hand-wringing over energy lending has largely subsided and banks are taking advantage of new opportunities in specialty lending.

PacWest Bancorp in Los Angeles reported higher third-quarter profits thanks to higher net interest income, increased commissions and fees and the elimination of its loss-sharing agreements.

Regions Financial in Birmingham, Ala., reported a higher third-quarter profit, citing improved fee income from mortgage lending, capital markets and credit and debit cards. It also benefited from some special items and energy-market improvements.

Attendees at this year's American Bankers Association conference are fixated on the election, fintech competition and banking's changing landscape. While optimistic, many are still wondering where their industry is headed.