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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 the increasing pressure regulators are putting on big banks:

"I hope at one point we declare a victory and just stop eating our young."

- Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chase (JPM) chairman and chief executive

Related Article: JPM's 1Q Revenue Drop Bad Omen for Rest of Industry

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On why growing through deals is the best way to keep investors happy:

"Look at the stats. The bigger banks trade at a higher multiple of book value. The market says size matters."

- Jim Mitchell, president and chief executive of Puget Sound Bank (PUGB)

Related Article: Puget Sound Bank Eyes More Acquisitions

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On why acquisitions aimed at increasing assets are bound to fail:

"An acquisition to enhance franchise value that doesn't enhance shareholder value is simply a lie. If you look at some of the big asset aggregators...you find a highway littered with the shares of bad deals. It is like driving through a junk yard."

- Joseph Stieven, chief executive of Stieven Capital Advisors in St. Louis, which holds stakes in more than 60 banks

Related Article: Culture, Shareholder Value Must Guide M&A: Investor Stieven

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On news that last January's foreclosure settlement will result in just $300 in compensation for the majority of borrowers:

"It's a dismal part of history when it comes to mortgage finance."

- John Taylor, the head of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition

Related Article: Foreclosure Settlement Amounts to Peanuts for Most Borrowers

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On the independent foreclosure review process that was halted in January:

"If we had it to do over again we would take a different approach."

- Daniel Stipano, deputy chief counsel at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

Related Article: Democrats Chide Regulators Over Failed Independent Foreclosure Review

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On why Wintrust Financial Corp (WTFC) doesn't bid on troubled banks unless it has a loss-share agreement in place with the FDIC:

"It's hard to believe that you can do two days of on-site, watered-down due diligence and get comfortable enough with the financial condition of the bank to go without a loss share."

- Edward Wehmer, president and chief executive officer of Wintrust

Related Article: Recovery Puts FDIC 'Loss-Sharing' on Endangered List

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On a minority out-of-state shareholder who is trying to take control of the board at South Street Financial in Albemarle, N.C.:

"I have received numerous calls from people outraged that a man from Pennsylvania is trying to come down here to cause trouble."

- R. Ronald Swanner, Chairman, President and Chief Executive of South Street Financial

Related Article: N.C. Proxy Battle Qualifies as 2013's Strangest Skirmish

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On why raising capital adequacy levels may not make banks more resilient:

"Don't you feel better with 20% capital? But are you safer? Have you allocated anything better?"

- Thomas Hoenig, vice chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Related Article: FDIC Officials Push to Bolster Basel III Plan

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On the OCC's efforts to regulate bank consultants:

"To me, the whole thing [criticism] about the consultants is just more scapegoating."

- Walter Moeling 4th, a partner at the law firm Bryan Cave

Related Article: Tensions Flare Between OCC and Bank Consultants

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On the risk that hackers could launch cyberattacks by remotely hijacking mobile devices, which rarely include anti-virus software:

"It's a horrible scenario. Imagine what happens if a million mobile devices all over the U.S. target one location?"

- Alphonse Pascual, senior analyst of security, risk and fraud at Javelin Strategy & Research

Related Article: How to Block a DDoS Attack

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