Total bank annuity sales rose by 26 percent in December compared to the previous month, according to the Kehrer-Jackson Monthly Bank Annuity Sales Survey.

Financial institutions sold $5.4 billion of fixed and variable annuities in December, up from $4.3 billion in November. The monthly survey is based on a national sample of banks with assets of $4 billion or more, Kehrer-Jackson said.

"Total bank annuity sales climbed in December due to the continued strength of fixed annuity sales through banks," said Greg Cicotte, executive vice president and national sales manager for Jackson National Life Distributors LLC, the sponsor of the monthly survey. "Total annuity sales in December were just below the record high reached in April 2008. Historically, the highest annuity sales in banks have occurred in March or April during income tax season, which makes December’s results especially notable."