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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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Advising bankers that federal reforms alone cannot restore public trust in their industry:

"Good judgment cannot be regulated."

- Eliot Spitzer, former New York governor

Related Article: How to Fix Banks' Reputation Problem? First, Admit There's a Problem

(Image: Bloomberg News)

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On bankers' insistence at the height of Occupy Wall Street that their industry was well-liked:

"Okay, dude, there are people literally sleeping in tents just to point out how much they don't like you."

- Raj Date, former deputy director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Related Article: How to Fix Banks' Reputation Problem? First, Admit There's a Problem

(Image: Bloomberg News)

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On costs cuts at banks:

"The industry is going to find out it can get by with a lot fewer people than it ever thought it could."

- Jeff Davis, managing director of the financial institutions group at Mercer Capital

Related Article: Banks to Keep Cutting Until Signs of Recovery Add Up

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On how he plans to keep BB&T's (BBT) expenses down:

"If you've got two subscriptions of a newspaper, maybe cut it to one. Be sure when you walk out of a room, you cut the lights off."

- Kelly King, chairman and chief executive of BB&T

Related Article: Don't Leave the Light On for Kelly King

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Describing Associated Banc-Corp's (ASBC) top priority to analysts:

"Sometimes, we look around our company and we feel like, gee, we have so much work to do to make this place more efficient."

- Philip Flynn, CEO of Associated Banc-Corp

Related Article: Associated Aims to Improve Efficiency, Eyes Acquisitions

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Conceding he underestimated the challenge of increasing mortgage originations at PNC (PNC):

"I was wrong."

- Bill Demchak, incoming CEO of PNC

Related Article: PNC Steers Clear of Risky Loans, Builds from Within: CEO

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On Bank of America's (BAC) first-quarter dip in in consumer banking revenue:

"It's pretty serious that their consumer businesses are in such decline."

- Erik Oja, analyst, S&P Capital IQ

Related Article: Consumer-Bank Weakness Casts Doubt on B of A's Revenue Prospects

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Promising M&T Bank (MTB) will rectify anti-money laundering compliance problems flagged by the Fed and close its purchase of Hudson City Bancorp (HCBK):

"We will do whatever we need to do to see it through."

- Rene Jones, CFO of M&T

Related Article: M&T 'Optimistic' About Completing Hudson City Deal

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Discussing life after leaving Bank of America, while emphasizing the need to network:

"Holiday cards from Bank of America colleagues were down 95%. That's not an estimate."

- Sallie Krawcheck, former Bank of America and Citigroup (C) executive

Related Article: Krawcheck: Diversity Creates More Stability

(Image: Bloomberg News)

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On why women in banking should seek challenging roles:

"As women, we want to think we are 100% qualified before we accept something. Men always think they are 100% qualified."

- Jane Haskin, president and chief executive at First Bethany Bank & Trust

Related Article: Bankers Share Tips for Adding Women Execs, Customers

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On the accounting headaches associated with failed-bank deals:

"While there are huge benefits for having been in the FDIC-assisted deal process, there've also been drawbacks."

-Daryl Byrd, CEO of Iberiabank

Related Article: Iberiabank Charge Shows Challenge of Failed-Bank Deals

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