The five biggest bank M&A deals of 2025

Key insight: There were more bank M&A deals in 2025 than in the past three years, and the combinations were generally more valuable.Supporting data: Banks announced at least 170 deals in 2025, up more than one-third from last year and nearly 80% from 2023.Forward look: A more merger-friendly regulatory environment, and speedier deal approval timelines, may beget more acquisitions in 2026.Merger and acquisition activity between banks sprang back to life in 2025 after several years of muted dealmaking due to ...