The Boston company is set to become the nation’s largest custody bank after paying a premium for a Brown Brothers Harriman unit. Executives and analysts say Brown Brothers may have been the last chance for any of the country's major custodians to achieve meaningful growth through M&A.

The deal would propel New York-based Valley National into the ranks of the nation's 30 largest banks.

In the last 10 months, three banks based overseas have announced their exit from retail banking in this country. Rising competition, revenue challenges and a pressing need to spend big on technology are driving the moves.

The institution, which dates to the mid-1800s, helped fuel the state’s growth during the 19th and 20th centuries. Its charter will cease to exist when it's sold to U.S. Bancorp.

Its deal for the unaffiliated but similarly mission-focused Amalgamated Bank of Chicago would create a $7.6 billion-asset institution serving unions, nonprofits and organizations that support environmental sustainability and social enterprises.

The Dallas-based bank holding company said it would pay $62.5 million in cash to buy the privately held North Avenue Capital, the top lender in the USDA's Business & Industry program.

Whether to approve the $8 billion deal will fall to the Fed, whose board may be reshaped by President Biden in the coming months. The White House recently called for more robust scrutiny of bank acquisitions.

JPMorgan Chase bought the college financial-planning platform Frank, the latest in a string of acquisitions the largest U.S. bank has made this year to compete with both big technology firms and fintech upstarts. 

By acquiring Citizens Union Bancorp, the Indiana-based German American will gain 11 branches and more than $700 million of deposits in Kentucky’s largest city.

The cash-and-stock deal would add roughly $58 billion of loans and $90 billion of deposits to U.S. Bancorp’s balance sheet, significantly boosting the company's market share in California.

Citizens Financial Group's acquisition of Investors Bancorp — one of the biggest banking combinations announced so far this year — may never have happened if the pandemic hadn't interrupted the seller's merger talks with another bank.

Already in 2021, the nation's largest bank by assets has purchased more than 30 companies, including both fintechs and firms that are more removed from the financial industry. Here's a look at eight of those deals and the thinking behind them.

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group is considering selling its U.S. banking arm, as consolidation heats up in the American financial industry, people familiar with the matter said.

The all-stock acquisition of South Dakota-based Great Western would create a regional bank with $32 billion of assets and more than 300 branches in 14 states.

Buying the point-of-sale loan provider would give Goldman Sachs access to a network of millions of consumers and thousands of merchants that the bank would have difficulty building on its own, said Stephanie Cohen, its global co-head of consumer and wealth management.

The deal to buy Happy Bancshares enables Arkansas-based Home to expand into Dallas and Austin and could provide a springboard for more acquisitions in the Lone Star State.

CEO Bill Demchak is seeking clarity on which business units can facilitate the trading of digital currencies.

Rochelle State Bank is flush with capital after a group led by investor Rajib Das purchased the bank from its longtime owner in June. Das says his priority is boosting lending locally, but he is also planning to invest heavily in technology and mulling acquisitions.

Royal Credit Union is combining with Utilities Credit Union. Royal recently agreed to purchase Lake Area Bank in Lindstrom, Minnesota.

Its $53 million purchase of Pacific Enterprise Bank would be BayCom's 10th bank acquisition since 2010.