The KBW Nasdaq Bank Index was up 18% year to date through July, supporting expectations for more banks to use their shares as currency to take out competitors.

Despite the continuing trends of consolidation and limited startup activity, bankers and industry insiders say there is a path forward. But small lenders must evolve with changing technology.

The five largest bank M&A deals had an average deal value of more than $1.2 billion.

The Kansas City, Missouri-based regional bank said it is making progress on its pending purchase of Heartland Financial USA in Denver. The deal is expected to close during the first quarter of 2025.

Capital One's proposed deal to acquire Discover is being viewed by progressives as a test of how skeptical the administration really is about big bank mergers, while Republican lawmakers mostly support the deal.

The $330 million transaction announced late Monday would give the Jasper-based company a foothold in fast-growing Columbus, as well as in Cincinnati.

The buyer said the all-stock deal to buy The First Bancshares would create a combined bank with $25 billion of assets.

Fulton Financial taps Valley National's Richard Kraemer as its new CFO; UBS' veteran private banker Jenny Su has left the firm; Bank of America names Kevin Brunner head of global technology, media and telecommunications investment banking; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

Friday's deal for Premier Financial ends a five-year M&A hiatus for the Wheeling, West Virginia-based company while marking its expansion into Michigan.

ChoiceOne Financial Services would pay about $180 million to acquire Fentura Financial in a bid to expand in Detroit's suburbs. The deal would create a bank with more than $4 billion of assets.

Third-party origination operations are also going to Mr. Cooper in the $1.4 billion deal, in which the seller cited interest in improving its capital position.

The $73.5 million all-stock deal, slated to close early in 2025, would create a bank with more than $3 billion of assets.

In this edition of American Banker's news quiz, test yourself on the latest items covering FedNow's progress since launch, the merger between Capital One Financial and Discover Financial Services and more.

The credit card company sold its student loan business, which long drew the ire of regulators. It also set aside substantial funds to cover looming regulatory penalties.

Mixed earnings results at Wells Fargo and the ongoing merger proposal between Discover Financial Services and Capital One Financial are creating added pressure for investors.

The credit card giant says its proposed acquisition of Discover would facilitate a bevy of community development activity and philanthropy. But some public advocacy groups are skeptical.

The bank acquired these business purpose non-qualified mortgage loans originated by Civic Financial Services in the PacWest Bancorp deal.

The fate of Capital One's acquisition of Discover should be determined based on its own merits and not be maligned for the foibles of other failed banks.

Bloom Credit Union and West Michigan Credit Union aim to join forces; Long Island-based New York Community Bancorp plans a reverse stock split; Providence, Rhode Island-based Citizens Financial hires longtime California banker to lead its middle-market team; and more in this week's banking news roundup.

VersaBank plans to use the one-branch Stearns Bank Holdingford in Minnesota as a platform to expand a lucrative niche business acquiring loan and lease receivables from point-of-sale lenders.