After achieving their best quarter since 2021, major US banks are about to begin their earnings reports, following a 23% rise in the US bank stock index last quarter. Bank stocks rebounded in late October 2023, as investors grew optimistic that the Federal Reserve would stop hiking interest rates without causing a recession. Attention is now turning to the possible relaxation of these policies and how it will affect banks' loan portfolios, deposit rates, and overall business operations. Financial companies are anticipated to report significant payments, including Citigroup's expected $1.7 billion expense, to the FDIC due to last year's regional bank failures.