Regional banks

With the two companies said to be still mulling which charter to seek, the various options each have possible advantages and drawbacks.

CEO John Turner told investors and analysts Wednesday that the merger of BB&T and SunTrust is not putting pressure on Regions to pursue a deal of its own.

Regulators spend considerable time and resources reviewing big mergers and the process shouldn’t be used as a proxy for the “too big to fail” fight.

The company disclosed that it paid $146 million for servicing rights associated with $13 billion in mortgages.

Credit card issuers would have to set aside more in reserves because of higher loss histories, according to research by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods on the impact of the new loan-loss standard.

The Rhode Island bank is one of several regionals that have snapped up dealmaking boutiques in recent years to bolster noninterest income.

They all agree that legislation is needed, but the two approaches being offered are exposing tensions.

The biggest merger in years is reviving the idea that the industry is headed for a barbell-like shakeout, with very large banks on one end, community banks on the other and very few in between.

OceanFirst in New Jersey shuttered more than a third of its branches but says nearly all the customers stuck with the bank because it trained employees to show customers how to go digital.

Regional and community banks are eager to buy branches and hire top performers from the merging companies.