Performance reports

In many cases, customers aren't staying with a bank's brand because they are satisfied. They are staying with the brand because it's too hard to leave.

Bay Banks of Virginia in Kilmarnock has increased the size of its fourth-quarter loss, after a commercial borrower pleaded guilty to creating false financial statements.

Carolina Trust Bank in Lincolnton, N.C., has revised downward its fourth-quarter results because of accounting changes related to its retirement plan and an acquisition from years ago.

Banks will be "more aggressive" in cutting their exposure to energy companies next month, during spring redeterminations, says Megan Snyder, an analyst with Moody's.

Executives at banks that have not taken advantage of low stock prices to buy up their own shares could get hammered during quarterly earnings calls in April.

Consolidation is increasing risk to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. while reducing diversification in the industry.

First NBC Bank Holding in New Orleans will likely cut its 2015 profit after it discovered errors in its accounting for tax credits.

Research shows the more consumers interact with branch staff, the more they dislike the brand. To improve their image, banks need to emulate Apple and focus on every customer experience detail — in tech and in person.

Loans outpacing GDP and the expressed optimism of CEOs on recent earnings calls are among the signs that growth figures are too good to be true.

About a fifth of regional banks look at their efficiency ratios as they set executive compensation. Ongoing revenue challenges and investor pressure could push more boards to consider efficiency — or simple cost-cutting — to determine pay for high-level officers.

Royal Bancshares of Pennsylvania, which spent three years righting the ship, is ready to poach bankers and clients who might be upset with recent consolidation in Royal's home state. While it could look at deals, Royal is primarily hoping to steal market share with a private-banking model, loan production offices and technology upgrades.

President Obama put pressure on regulators this week to finish their long-delayed rule governing executive compensation, but by the time it gets implemented, much of the work may have already been done.

The Hall of Fame manager, who won three World Series, told bankers at a recent conference that trust, integrity and communication are critical to success. La Russa also shared tales from his storied career, including accounts of managing the likes of Rickey Henderson and Chris Carpenter.

Not only are widening credit spreads for both banks and the companies they lend to a red flag, but the financial sector is also feeling a hit from lower energy prices.

Regulators want to know how banks are planning for the future, particularly in the face of competitive threats such as marketplace lending and added scrutiny over the use of third-party vendors.

Their top executives sure don't. Income streams are constrained in every business line, the economic picture remains murky, and big banks are talking about cutting more expenses again.

Changes to mortgage disclosures rules implemented in October continue to frustrate community bankers and is just another example of the struggle to stay independent.

Southwest Bancorp in Stillwater, Okla., and LegacyTexas Financial Group in Plano have disclosed exposure to a commercial borrower that faces criminal and civil investigations.

Hailed as a space- and cost-saver, interactive video teller machines don't always succeed as a strategy. Many banks offer them without a clear business case to justify the investment.

Add BB&T to the list of banks bolstering reserves because of growing concerns about energy exposure.