An increase of $1.2 billion in loans to banks and companies was partially offset by a decline in commercial real estate loans. With more loans outstanding, Comerica was able to collect more interest from its customers. Net interest income, which measures interest income from loans and interest payments to depositors, rose to $435 million from $391 million a year earlier. Non-interest income, which includes fees and other gains and losses, rose to $211 million from $202 million in 2011. Much of the increase came from an annual incentive payment of $5 million that Comerica receives from a company that issues credit cards on its behalf. The bank's noninterest expenses rose to $433 million from $411 million a year earlier. Part of the increase came from an $8 million restructuring charge related to the Sterling acquisition. In the same quarter a year earlier, Comerica took a smaller, $5 million charge on the deal. The results were stronger than Wall Street analysts had expected.