Regional Financial set aside $135 million as provision for credit losses, compared to a benefit of $36 million in the previous year.
That offset gains from a 40% growth in net interest income, the difference between how much banks earn from loans and pay out on deposits. Total deposits fell 3% from the end of last year to $129.04 billion, but remained stable from early March through the end of the quarter, Regions said. The bank posted a 12% jump in profit to $588 million, or 62 cents per share, for the three months ended March 31, missing analysts' estimates of 66 cents per share, according to Refinitiv. (Reporting by Sri Hari N S and Niket Nishant in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)