Commercial banking

Strong growth in commercial and CRE lending also led record to interest income in the quarter.

Profit surged at BB&T in Winston-Salem, N.C., during the fourth quarter, driven by various acquisitions and growth in business lending.

The Pittsburgh company was aided by high-single-digit organic loan growth in addition to an acquisition that was completed in February.

Andy Cecere is the new CEO-in-waiting at the Minneapolis bank, but interest in his future plans took a back seat as investors and others tried to get their heads around why the current boss, Richard Davis, is choosing to leave seven years before the typical retirement age.

Northern Trust’s fourth-quarter profit surged due to higher trust fees, improved credit quality and the benefit accrued to its profit margin from an increase in short-term interest rates.