The net loss available to common shareholders was $15.7 million for the 2009 fourth quarter and $22.7 million for the full year, it said in a statement.

The factors driving the results in the year and quarter were increases in advisory revenue, driven largely by growth in the corporate client services business; higher provisions for loan losses, which hit net interest income and securities loss.

“While recessionary pressures on our borrowers increased credit costs and reduced net interest income, our corporate client services business recorded its best quarter ever, and our Wealth Advisory Services business continued to do well amid difficult market conditions,” said Ted Cecala, Wilmington Trust chairman and chief executive.

Core deposit balances, on average, were $6.74 billion. This was 22 per cent higher than for the year-ago fourth quarter, and 1 per cent higher than for the 2009 third quarter (trailing quarter).