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The most notable quotes from American Banker stories of the previous week. Readers are encouraged to add their own observations in the Comments fields at the bottom of each slide.

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On why banks often use the U.S Department of Agriculture's insurance program when lending to farmers:

"I'm not saying they're deadbeats, but I'm also saying they're not prime bank customers."

- John Blanchfield, senior vice president at the American Bankers Association

Related Article: Banks Push for More Government-Backed Farm Loans

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On the challenge of tracking down debtors:

"It's like hunting an animal in the woods."

- Ron Brown, chief executive of investigation and asset-recovery firm CSI Group

Related Article: Why Debt Collectors Should Not 'Friend' Debtors on Facebook

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On the risk that the Dodd-Frank Act could exacerbate the damage during times of financial stress:

"Enhancing the scope for intervention and enhancing the tools just spreads the poison that boxes us in, in a crisis."

- Jeff Lacker, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Related Article: Fed's Lacker: How to Stop Bailouts for Good

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On Fannie and Freddie's growing presence in multifamily lending:

"The government pie has brought a lot of investors to the market."

- Jamie Woodwell, vice president of commercial real estate research at the Mortgage Bankers Association

Related Article: Love of Multifamily Lending Lingers, But for How Long?

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On the claim that customers prefer hometown banks:

"Money is money. People don't care anymore where a bank is headquartered."

- Mitchell Feiger, chief executive of MB Financial

Related Article: Wintrust Sees Room to Go Big in Chicago

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On why many small banks are reluctant to sell:

"If you're a healthy bank, why would you merge now? The premiums aren't there."

- Todd Grayson, executive vice president of South Central Bank in Chicago

Related Article: WinTrust Sees Room to Go Big in Chicago

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On the high cost of cancelling pending M&A deals:

"You spend a lot of time and effort, so if it [a deal] doesn't close, you've lost all of it."

- Jeff Gerrish, a partner at Gerrish McCreary Smith

Related Article: M&A Cancellations Slow, But Still a Risk for Banks

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On how pressure on acquirers' to boost earnings could trigger more M&A:

"The new reality is that bank stocks are [worth more than] 60% to 70% of tangible book when buyers such as Renasant have an improved currency and need earning assets at reasonable yields."

- Chris Marinac, analyst with FIG Partners

Related Article: Pricey Deal in Mississippi Reflects Pressure on Buyers to Grow

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On pending state legislation to ban retailers from levying surcharges on credit card transactions:

"I believe that card issuers are unfairly gouging merchants and retailers, and hopefully this legislation can slow that practice."

- West Virginia State Senator Truman Chafin

Related Article: Seven States Eye Ban on Credit Card Surcharges

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On the combination student ID-debit cards that some universities have introduced:

"Schools are getting into bed with these financial institutions with these cards and some are doing it in order to be compensated by the bank."

- John Hirabayashi, president and chief executive of Community First Credit Union of Florida

Related Article: CFPB Scrutiny of Bank-College Partnerships Deepens

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On how Dodd-Frank and the Jumpstart Our Business Startups, or JOBS, Act have helped small banks but overlooked thrifts:

"The level playing field is tilted way against the S&Ls. This was allowed to go through without anyone screaming foul."

- Doug Faucette, a lawyer with Locke Lord

Related Article: Small Thrifts Getting Short Shrift from D.C.

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On the Treasury's decision to cancel its auction of Coastal Banking Co.'s Tarp shares after the bank's finances improved:

"They tell me this is kind of unusual. The Treasury said there have been a few of these auction agreements they've had to break because of subsequent bad news, buy they can't remember one they've had to break because of good news."

- Coastal Banking Co. chief financial officer Paul Garrigues

Related Article: Tarp Auction of Coastal Banking in S.C. Cancelled as Bank's Finances Improve

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On his decision to join a community bank after working for the likes of Citigroup, Ally and Freddie Mac:

"I'd like to think my career isn't always focused on putting out fires."

- Al Celini, chief risk officer of Sun Bancorp in Vineland, N.J.

Related Article: Sun's Celini Trades In His Train Pass, Firefighter Hat
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Arguing that banks have done a bad job of showing the value of checking accounts:

"Do you know of any other business that gives that away for free?"

- Citizens National Bank President and Chief Executive Brad Tidwell

Related Article: Service Charges Starting to Rebound at Community Banks

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