Synovus Financial (NYSE: SNV) reported Q2 EPS of $1.20, $0.16 better than the analyst estimate of $1.04.

“Our Synovus team delivered solid financial performance in the second quarter while continuing to position the company for long-term success,” said Kevin Blair, Synovus President and CEO. “Revenue growth in the quarter was largely driven by an $8 million increase in net interest income resulting from earning asset growth. The credit outlook continued to improve, with a 14% reduction in criticized and classified loans and another quarter of reserve release. And we remained focused on growth drivers in the quarter while maintaining discipline around expenses, which declined 5% from the second quarter of 2020.

“We are delivering on Synovus Forward, with $75 million in pre-tax benefits to date, and we continue to strengthen our competitive position by investing in specialized talent, technology and solutions, and by taking advantage of our economically vibrant Southeast footprint,” Blair said. “We expect our efforts to produce sustained profitable growth, positive operating leverage, and higher returns as we progress toward becoming a top quartile performing bank.”

For earnings history and earnings-related data on Synovus Financial (SNV) click here.