In the past three years, the largest banks in the United States paid more than $60 billion in settlements related to lawsuits stemming from their mortgage activities and the credit crisis in general. A study by SNL Financial showed Bank of America paid by far the largest amount in settlements at $41.62 billion. Despite that hit, reportable net income at Bank of America rose 28 percent in 2012 to $12.33 billion, up from $9.64 billion the previous year. Bank of America ranks No. 3 on the Kansas City…