Strategic planning

Despite a surge in quarterly expenses in the fourth quarter and a projected uptick in the first quarter, the North Carolina company is standing by its expense guidance for 2024.

The Pittsburgh-based regional bank expects to save $325 million next year as it reduces its staff by 4%. Executives said the cuts are necessary because revenue has fallen amid a surge in interest rates and a decline in loan volumes.

Some analysts and investors want the North Carolina bank to make big changes to meet financial targets, which they say aren't being met more than four years after the BB&T-SunTrust merger. The critics will be closely watching a presentation by top Truist executives on Monday.

The Canadian bank initially told investors the acquisition would result in more than $350 million in cost savings. But a recent analysis suggests that number could be even higher.

The CEOs of the nation's largest banks met with officials in Washington on Wednesday and Thursday, just two weeks before the government is expected to go broke. Behind the scenes, the banks are reviewing contingencies in case the unthinkable occurs.

Headcount at the nation's second-largest bank has fallen by around 1,000 since the end of last month. More job reductions are in the works after noninterest expenses rose by 6% during the first quarter.

The latest expense guidance also stems from rising operating losses at the North Carolina bank. Cost-cutting was a key rationale for the 2019 merger of BB&T and SunTrust, which created Truist.

The nation's largest bank indicated Monday that it may again offer home equity lines of credit to a wide audience. Rising mortgage rates have made the product more attractive after a long drought when low rates suppressed demand.

Bank of America is moving three months early on its most recent plan to raise its hourly base pay. “Until the labor market eases, the weight of wage growth is going to be strong,” CEO Brian Moynihan said during a CNBC interview.

A clash among FDIC board members has intensified a debate about whether regulators should take a tougher look at large M&A deals. House Financial Services Chair Maxine Waters added to the frenzy by calling for a moratorium on approving big acquisitions.