Bank Mergers in a Deregulated Environment: Promise and Peril

Banking and financial industry deregulation may hold promise for consumers, but what actually seems to be developing is trouble. Large banks are combining into small clusters of mega-banks with national and global reach, supported by government safety nets premised on fears that they are too big to be allowed to fail.

One result, among several, is that retail banking suffers. The authors evaluate existing bank merger policy and offer workable proposals for new legislative actions that would enhance the benefits of bank mergers without exacerbating the weaknesses. A far reaching study and essential reading for executives in all corners of the industry, academic and government researchers, and teachers of business, finance, and public policy.