Three midsize banks projected increases in loans this year in the latest round of earnings discussions, but their levels of optimism varied, and their commercial lending strategies in some cases conflicted.
JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and PNC reported lackluster revenue growth as higher trading fees and increases in commercial lending barely compensated for consumer-side challenges.
Bank of America, the second-largest U.S. lender by assets, said fourth-quarter profit rose 43% as revenue from fixed-income trading increased and expenses dropped.