Earnings season kicked off with a series of bank stocks, and several managed to beat expectations. But, given the lack of interest rate hikes and sluggish economic environment, how were they able to pull this off? We take a look at five companies which gave their reports over the past week—including JP Morgan (JPM), Bank of America (BAC), Citigroup (C), Wells Fargo (WFC) and PNC (PNC)—and discuss their quarterly results and what investors need to watch for these five in the future. We also note which are looking a bit more promising for the future, and which investors may want to watch for more trouble if low interest rates continue into the future. Make sure to tune in next week for key previews for earnings reports ahead, and definitely watch the Zacks Earnings Center for all the latest updates to guide you through earnings season! Want more insights from Zacks? See our latest free report 5 Stocks to Double. Click here to receive this free report now >>>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report JPMORGAN CHASE (JPM): Free Stock Analysis Report PNC FINL SVC CP (PNC): Free Stock Analysis Report WELLS FARGO-NEW (WFC): Free Stock Analysis Report CITIGROUP INC (C): Free Stock Analysis Report BANK OF AMER CP (BAC): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.