bank profits

A surge in earnings by the biggest banks at the end of last year made 2011 the most profitable time for the industry in five years. More earnings and fewer troubled banks suggest the industry has healed since the 2008 financial crisis.

Banks received some long-awaited news last week: the Federal Reserve voted to cap fees charged to retailers on debit card transactions at roughly 24 cents per transaction, down from an average of 44 cents. Financial institutions had feared the Fed's initial proposal of a 12 cent cap would go...

Banks received some long-awaited news last week: the Fed capped the fees they can charge to retailers on debit card transactions at roughly 24 cents per transaction, down from an average of 44 cents. It was better than they'd feared: The initial proposal was a 12 cent cap. But how will all those pennies add up for consumers?

The financial headlines of the last several months have shown large banks making near-record profits, and small banks being closed at a pace of three or four per week. The FDIC has released its comprehensive report on the industry for the third quarter, and it confirms that fairly positive assessment.

Several banks came out this week with the news that their earnings are extremely robust. Recession? What recession? In fact, part of the reason the Dow recently topped 10,000 is credited to how the nation's banks have been doing. If you want to keep score, here's how some of the nation's biggest...