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The most memorable 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)
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In an email by Michael Brosnan to his staff, announcing his resignation from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency:

"I've been here for most of my life because the roles and family of the agency have made it easy to look forward to each and every day. I am now in the unfamiliar and uncomfortable realm where it isn't fun any longer."

- Michael Brosnan, the OCC's former senior deputy comptroller of large banks

Related Article: OCC Senior Leadership Gets Another Surprise Overhaul
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On why Sen. Elizabeth Warren is in the perfect position to cut a deal with Republicans altering the structure of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:

"She can do what she wants on CFPB and the left can't criticize her. It's a 'only Nixon can go to China' kind of thing."

- Mark Calabria, director of financial regulation studies at the Cato Institute and a former Republican Senate aide

Related Article: How Elizabeth Warren Can Save the CFPB

(Image: Bloomberg News)
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On why changes to the mortgage industry were needed in the aftermath of the financial crisis:

"At that moment in time it was very difficult to escape the conclusion that the residential mortgage business in the U.S. had managed to do almost everything wrong."

- Raj Date, the CFPB's outgoing deputy director

Related Article: CFPB's Date Defends QM, Talks 'Stressful' Deadlines

(Image: Bloomberg News)
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James Abbott discussing his recent recognition as being the best investor-relations manager among mid-cap banks, and what motivates him:

"I enjoy the complexity and I like working. I am terrible at golf."

- James Abbott, senior vice president of investor relations at Zions Bancorp.

Related Article: The Secrets of Zions' Award-Winning Investor Relations Chief
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On what 2013 promises for banks:

"The economy will remain somewhat soft, and Zions will slog through it like any other bank."

- Paul Miller, an analyst with FBR Capital Markets

Related Article: The Silver Lining on Zions' Big Charge

(Image: Thinkstock)
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On the challenges community banks face in 2013:

"It's a pretty good storm, maybe not a perfect storm. I just don't see a lot of upside. Generally there is a sense that markets are improving across the country, but that's not translating into a lot of new loan growth."

- Randy Dennis, president of DD&F Consulting Group

Related Article: Small Banks' 4Q Results Portend Uphill Climb in '13

(Image: Thinkstock)
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On why online merchants are looking for alternatives to PayPal:

"PayPal is like a walled garden. It's more like the early days of the Internet, when somebody on AOL could talk to somebody on AOL but not somebody on Prodigy."

- Anthony Gallippi, founder of bitcoin payment-processor BitPay

Related Article: PayPal's File-Sharing Restrictions Drive Merchants to Rivals.

(Image: Thinkstock)
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On why credit card criminals are targeting the United States:

"We're the weakest link around the world."

- Sanjay Sakhrani, a card industry analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Wood

Related Article: Fraud Losses Increase as U.S Lags on EMV Chips

(Image: Thinkstock)
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On why Bank of the Ozarks will keep its name as it expands geographically:

"People care about the quality of the service, the quality of products - so if we've got great products and great service nobody really cares about the name on the bank."

- Bank of the Ozarks Chairman and CEO George Gleason

Related Article: Why M&A-Minded Bank of the Ozarks Will Keep Its Name
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On what it takes for a regional bank to survive in today's environment:

"My whole life in banking my philosophy has been 'stick to your markets.'" But these days, "a regional bank can't just stick to its region because there's not enough loan demand."

- TCF Financial Chairman and CEO William Cooper

Related Article: TCF Bets Big on National Lending Strategy
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On loan and pricing competition in New Jersey:

"It's very, very intense. We fight for every deal…but we will not compromise on credit. We spent a year cleaning up our balance sheet and cutting out nonperforming loans from 9% [of total loans] to 2%. We will not let that happen again."

- Suffolk Bancorp CEO Howard Bluver

Related Article: Suffolk Bancorp's Mr. Fix-It Shares His Turnaround Tips
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On why New Jersey will see more bank consolidation:

"I think there are more banks here per square feet than most other states. You've got a lot of people struggling under the weight of the economy and are finding it tough to bring in capital."

- Somerset Hills Bancorp president and CEO Stewart McClure

Related Article: Size Plays Leading Role in Somerset Hills' Decision to Sell
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Sandra Pierce, FirstMerit's vice chairman, on why she was fortunate to grow up poor in Detroit:

"I was lucky in the birth order. Being poor and having great grades allowed me to go to college."

- FirstMerit Corp Vice Chairman Sandra Pierce

Related Article: Detroit Banker Sandra Pierce Tries to Save Her Hometown
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