De novo institutions

Alex Sanchez acknowledges that the U.S. has a lot of banks and many failed in the crisis, but he says a healthy economy needs a fresh supply of community lenders to nurture entrepreneurs.

Congress granted banks significant reg relief last year, but incoming ICBA Chairman Preston Kennedy says a lighter touch is needed with Bank Secrecy Act rules, loan-loss modeling and call reports.

Big bank mergers have historically been a catalyst for startups. Experts say it could happen again.

Loyal Trust Bank will have a large number of Asian-American investors and board members.

Gulf Atlantic Bank would be the eighth bank in the market, and just the second with local ownership.

Several groups have gone public with plans to start a bank since the state enacted a law to make it easier, but none have actually filed with the FDIC.

American National Bankshares is trying to force the proposed American Bank & Trust to change its name.

Bankers are eager to expand there through M&A, de novos or other means, encouraged by strong employment and disruption created by recent consolidation.

While proponents contend the model could help reach the underbanked, there remain many arguments against it.

Now the organizers of American Bank & Trust must raise $20 million to open the state's first new bank since the financial crisis.