"Governor Bowman Addresses Future Implications of Bank Mergers and Acquisitions"

Governor Michelle W. Bowman expressed concerns about the regulatory trajectory and its impact on the future of banking, particularly focusing on bank mergers and acquisitions, de novo bank formation, and regulatory approvals in the banking system. She highlighted the challenges faced by banks, especially smaller ones, in complying with voluminous regulatory changes and emphasized the need for a more focused and prioritized reform agenda. Additionally, she raised concerns about the evolving approach to bank mergers and acquisitions by prudential regulators, emphasizing the importance of improving the speed and timeliness of regulatory decision-making and ensuring that the regulatory review process is fair, transparent, and consistent with applicable statutes.