The number of banks on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s "problem" list grew over the summer, even as the industry posted solid net income and fewer loans soured.

The number of troubled banks rose to 860 in the July-September quarter from 829 in the previous quarter. That's the most since 1993, during the savings and loan crisis.

The FDIC also said banks earned $14.5 billion during the third quarter. That was a decrease from the previous quarter's result of $21.4 billion.

The FDIC said earnings fell because Bank of America Corp took a one-time hit of $10.4 billion. That was because of new limits on debit card swipe fees that retailers pay to banks.

The industry's third-quarter results were well above the $2 billion that banks earned a year earlier.

The troubled banks were smaller, on average, holding $379.2 billion in assets. That's down from $403.2 billion in the April-June quarter.

FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair said she remained "cautiously optimistic" about the industry as banks work through bad loans made during the real estate bubble.

"The industry has come a long way in cleaning up balance sheets, building capital and adjusting to changes in the financial markets and the economy," Bair said. But she said "the adjustments are not over, and this is no time for complacency."