MarketWatch reported that CIT Group’s Chairman and CEO sees opportunities to grow loan volume as its clients' businesses stabilize and as CIT makes progress restructuring its balance sheet.

As reported, John Thain, said demand for commercial loans remains solid despite slow economic growth. He also reiterated the company's interest in making portfolio acquisitions as it works to grow assets. "We do see a good pipeline," said Thain at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch banking conference in New York.  Assuming the economy continues to improve, albeit slowly, there is an "opportunity for us to continue to grow."

According to the report, CIT Bank has originated about $3 billion in new loan commitments this year and funded about $2 billion of that amount. The company has been pushing to make more of its loans out of its bank subsidiary. "We will continue to originate most of our U.S. lending and leasing business in the bank," Thain said.

The report states that CIT has seen strong demand in its transportation finance business, which provides aircraft and rail leasing to airlines and other companies.