Fifth Third Bancorp (NASDAQ:FITB) delivered better-than-expected first-quarter earnings, boosted by healthy loan growth and strong net interest margin expansion.

The company posted earnings of $0.73 per share, edging past Wall Street’s $0.71 estimate. Revenue of $2.14 billion came in slightly below expectations but remained supported by stable interest income.

Net interest income held firm at $1.44 billion, up 4% year-over-year, as disciplined deposit pricing and steady loan demand continued to support profitability. The bank’s net interest margin rose for a fifth straight quarter, reaching 3.03%, a six-basis-point improvement over Q4.

Average loans increased 3% from both the prior quarter and the year-ago period to $121.3 billion, with growth across commercial and consumer segments. Meanwhile, average deposits dipped 2% sequentially to $164.2 billion.

Credit metrics held firm, with net charge-offs unchanged at 0.46% of average loans, and the allowance for credit losses standing at 2.07%. The bank’s CET1 capital ratio slipped modestly to 10.45%, primarily due to continued loan expansion.