Stock dividends

Six months after the Federal Reserve put Wells Fargo on a strict diet — no more growth until it cleans up its act — shareholders are finding it’s not so bad.

The Senate Banking Committee's top Democrat singled out Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, which he said "got passing grades" despite being unable to maintain minimum required capital levels.

Among the six biggest U.S. banks, Bank of America might deliver one of the steepest jumps in payouts. Wells Fargo is the wild card.

On quarterly earnings calls set to begin next week, investors will be listening closely to CEO comments for any hints of how banks might deploy excess capital if they are no longer deemed systemically important.

Banks may start paying special dividends now that capital levels have improved.

Swelling capital levels, tax cuts and changing attitudes about post-crisis regulation could encourage bigger banks to issue the one-time payouts to reward shareholders and better manage their returns.

Look for banks to boost dividend payouts, expand into new markets, increase their tech spending and, eventually, ramp up their C&I lending. But don't expect much in the way of M&A.

Banks would be big winners if Congress slashes corporate tax rates and they will have no shortage of options for deploying all that extra cash.

CU in Vancouver announces distribution via redemption, dividend on shares.

The payout for 2016 brings CO-OP's total patronage to nearly $400 million since 1996.