Will Banks' M&A Activity Slow Down With Steeper Regulatory Scrutiny

The U.S. bank mergers will face tougher scrutiny under new guidelines from three agencies — the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Justice Department (DOJ). On Tuesday, the FDIC voted to increase the examination levels that directly consider an acquisition's impact on communities, consumers, competition and financial stability. The DOJ and the OCC released modifications and guidelines on their assessments of bank transactions.FDIC Guidel ...