Tax

The new tax law took a one-time bite out of fourth-quarter results, but higher rates strengthened yields and new business boosted fee income.

Flagstar Bancorp swung to a fourth-quarter loss as the company took an $80 million noncash charge to earnings because of the tax reform bill.

The Pittsburgh company reported a noisy fourth quarter that included expenses tied to its purchase of Yadkin Financial and a reduction in the value of its deferred tax assets.

The Florida company's fourth-quarter results included double-digit loan growth and a $328 million income tax benefit associated with recently passed tax reform.

The new tax law led to a nearly $16 million charge at the Pennsylvania bank, but it reported 7% loan growth and an 8% increase in fee income.

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.

The new tax law helped boost fourth-quarter results at SunTrust Banks in Atlanta, while the recent rate hikes led to gains in spread income.

Buying Capital Bank Financial helped boost revenue by 17% in the fourth quarter, but one-time charges related to recent tax cuts dragged down the Memphis company's profits.

The Los Angeles company said earnings fell 2% in the quarter as strong loan growth was offset by costs tied to its acquisition of CU Bancorp as well as a loss on the sale of a securities portfolio.

The Arkansas company's earnings fell 52% from a year earlier, reflecting a higher provision, a revaluation of its deferred tax asset and higher costs following a series of bank acquisitions.