Slideshow 'It's Hand-to-Hand Combat': Week's Best Quotes

9 Images Total

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.

Image: Fotolia

On the slow winter that many banks have had, possibly due to cold weather across the country:

"This is probably the first time you will ever hear me use weather as an excuse. It has snowed every day."

Ed Wehmer, the president and chief executive of Wintrust Financial (WTFC) in Rosemont, Ill.

Content Continues Below

On BBVA's plans for Simple, a digital-banking firm it bought last month:

"We will not mess with them."

Manolo Sanchez, CEO of BBVA Compass

On what a convenience-store employee said about working in bank regulation:

"Your job must suck."

Steven Antonakes, the deputy director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Image: Bloomberg News

On the fierce competition among banks for tech employees:

"It's hand-to-hand combat."

Catherine Bessant, who oversees global technology and operations for Bank of America (BAC)

Content Continues Below

On Citigroup's (NYSE:C) branch network, which is smaller than its megabank rivals':

"I'm not going to be Bank of America, Chase or Wells Fargo. I'm not going to have 4,000-plus branches. Frankly I don't want them."

William Howle, the chief operating officer of Citi's U.S. consumer and commercial businesses and its head of U.S. commercial banking

On how news of changes in strategy travels quickly in Hawaii's concentrated banking system:

"People know quickly if someone here is trying to make waves."

Margaret Pettyjohn, executive vice president of retail banking at American Savings Bank

On private-equity shop WL Ross' cashing out its investment in BankUnited:

"This was a dream private-equity deal. It was right out of the playbook and worked exactly the way it was supposed to."

John Kanas, CEO of BankUnited

Image: Bloomberg News

Content Continues Below

On East River Bank's use of images of a woman with tattoos in a Philadelphia billboard advertisement:

"We are not chasing that Fortune 500 company. We are chasing that small tech company located above the beauty salon."

Christopher McGill, president and chief executive of East River Bank

On the slow winter that many banks have had, possibly due to cold weather across the country:

On BBVA's plans for Simple, a digital-banking firm it bought last month:

On what a convenience-store employee said about working in bank regulation:

On the fierce competition among banks for tech employees:

On Citigroup's (NYSE:C) branch network, which is smaller than its megabank rivals':

On how news of changes in strategy travels quickly in Hawaii's concentrated banking system:

On private-equity shop WL Ross' cashing out its investment in BankUnited:

On East River Bank's use of images of a woman with tattoos in a Philadelphia billboard advertisement:

Like what you see? Make sure you're getting it all

American Banker