Bridgeport lender People’s United Financial said its fourth-quarter profits grew 9 percent from higher interest and fee income and tighter expense controls.
The parent of People’s United Bank booked $64.7 million in net income, or 22 cents per share, up from $59.3 million, or 20 cents, in the fourth quarter of 2013.
The company’s loan portfolio grew by $2.2 billion, or 9 percent, while deposits grew by nearly 16 percent.
Net interest income ticked up $3.2 million, while noninterest income grew $4.3 million. Meanwhile, the bank cut its expenses by $1 million.
For the full year, People’s earned net income of $251.7 million, or 84 cents a share, compared to $232.4 million, or 74 cents, in 2013.
President and CEO Jack Barnes said in a statement that he was pleased with the results, given a persistently low interest rate environment.
People’s charged off 0.12 percent of its net loans for the year, down from 0.19 percent.
The company will issue a 16.5-cent dividend on Feb. 15 to shareholders of record as of Feb. 1.
Photo credit: Flickr user Mike Mozart; Creative Commons license
