US banks' fee income helps offset lower interest income: Fitch

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - American banks’ fee income in the second quarter has helped offset their lower net interest income, according to reported financial results, Fitch Ratings said Wednesday.

"The largest U.S. banks maintained prudent reserves and capital to comply with higher expected regulatory requirements and absorb the now-familiar stresses on commercial real estate and consumer loan portfolio," it said in a statement.

The rating agency said higher deposit costs pressured net interest income at a majority of banking institutions.

"While net interest income remained pressured, fee income continued to show resilience, supported by a building recovery in investment banking," it added.

Fitch noted that Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley's total investment banking fees grew 40% year-on-year on aggregate, marking the fourth consecutive quarterly increase.