Commercial banking

Fifth Third and other regionals have ditched what they deem to be high-risk commercial loans in hopes of strengthening credit quality over the long term.

Profits at the Midwestern bank fell on lower adjusted noninterest income and loans and on a one-time item.

Citizens Financial Group in Providence, R.I., reported bigger profits in the fourth quarter on the strength of loan growth and improvements in its loan yield.

Associated Banc-Corp in Green Bay, Wis., reported a sharp increase in profits on an 11% increase in noninterest income and on lower credit costs.

Fourth-quarter profits at Wintrust Financial in Rosemont, Ill., climbed 54% to $54.6 million from a year earlier, helped largely by acquisitions and increases in mortgage banking and other fee income.