Dividend checks continue to get fatter in corporate America, as more companies jack up their distribution rates.

Readers of the Income Investor newsletter can certainly appreciate that kind of thinking. Let's take a closer look at some of the companies that inched their payouts higher these past few days.

We can start with Raven Industries (RAVN). The provider of specialized products for the precision agriculture, high-performance specialty films, aerospace, and electronic manufacturing services markets is boosting its quarterly dividend 14% to $0.12 a share.

"We are committed to returning cash to our shareholders," Raven's CEO claims in the press release.

Believe it. Raven has come through with 27 consecutive years of payout hikes.

Female Health (VERU -10.78%) is also protecting its stakeholders.

The company behind the FC2 Female Condom -- the only FDA-approved product for women that protects against sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies -- is enhancing its quarterly rate by 17% to $0.07 a share. Female Health also plans to return money to investors by increasing the pace of a buyback that has already repurchased 2 million of its allotted 3 million shares.

Banner (BANR 2.90%) is also banking on meatier yields. The regional banker is moving away from the token $0.01-a-share quarterly rate to a robust $0.12 a share.

We're finding more and more banks fortifying their disbursements as their prospects and stress tests improve. Banner operates several banks in the Pacific Northwest region with $4.27 billion in account assets.

Finally we have Camden National (CAC 0.91%). The parent company behind Maine's Camden National Bank and its wealth management subsidiary Acadia Trust is also beefing up its interest. Camden will now be shelling out $0.27 a share every three months, 8% ahead of where it was before.

Checks and balances
Subscribers to the Income Investor newsletter can appreciate the companies sending more and more money to their investors. The newsletter singles out companies that are committed to growing their distributions with market-thumping results. A 30-day trial subscription will let you see if it's right for you.