Bank Profits Continue To Roll, But Undercurrents Exist

Bank earnings rose sharply in the fourth quarter, the 17th straight quarterly year-over-year increase and showing strong a string of profitability since 2009. Banks’ fourth quarter net up staggering $40.3 billion Banks and savings and loans insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) earned a staggering $40.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2013, up nearly 17% from a year ago, according to the FDIC.  Net income for 2013 was up 9.6% to $154 billion year over year.  More than 50 percent of the FDIC insured financial institutions reported a year-over-year growth in quarterly earnings, as the portion of…