Regional banks

CEO William Demchak said the bank has witnessed "a lot of mischief" among customers who open checking accounts to collect bonuses and then never use the accounts again.

Stateside banks are starting to play catch-up to banks worldwide that are incorporating environmental, social and governance factors into their underwriting. Pressure from big shareholders is a driving force.

The regional bank, formed from the merger of BB&T and SunTrust, will begin marketing its new brand in conjunction with next month's Super Bowl.

Clients will have an active role in testing new products and services at the regional giant formed by the merger of BB&T and SunTrust, says Chairman and CEO Kelly King.

Though there were several high-profile mergers of equals among bigger banks, deal activity rose only slightly, and the vast majority of transactions involved the smallest of institutions. Here's an overview of those trends and others that stood out in bank dealmaking last year.

Banks had the highest turnover of chief compliance officers among the 100 largest financial services firms in the world, according to a recent study. Recruiters say that’s a function of changing job demands, high pressure and poaching by fintechs — plus old-fashioned demographics.

While his focus is on organic growth in Texas and California, Curt Farmer says he would consider a deal in those states if the right one comes along.

Political uncertainty, sector-specific concerns as well as interest rate and labor trends may continue to depress commercial and industrial lending in the coming months.

With adjustments to the post-crisis regulatory framework now complete, the Federal Reserve may begin the decade year with a focus on supervisory and examination processes.

The fresh optimism is starting to outweigh some of the worries hanging over the sector heading into the new year.