Key regulatory changes and business trends will drive bank mergers and acquisitions in 2019, two top bank deal lawyers say on the latest episode of the ABA Banking Journal Podcast.

Look for 2019 bank mergers to be driven by large deals in metro markets, smaller banks on the buy side and de novo groups acquiring rural banks.

ABA and state bankers associations across the country today sent letters to congressional leaders urging the House to pass S. 2155 -- the Senate-passed regulatory reform bill -- “as soon as possible.”

In a comment letter to the Federal Reserve yesterday, the American Bankers Association expressed support for the Federal Reserve’s ongoing effort to better align the reports that bank holding companies, savings and loan holding companies, U.S. intermediate holding companies and securities holding companies are required to file with the FFIEC Call Report.

The House today passed two bipartisan regulatory relief bills supported by ABA as part of its Blueprint for Growth.

The House Financial Services Committee today passed a number of ABA-advocated bills.

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) today released the latest legislative text of his Financial Choice Act, a 600-page bill aimed at rolling back and reforming parts of the Dodd-Frank Act’s extensive supervisory regime, as well as providing regulatory relief for banks of all sizes.

The federal banking agencies today released a 440-page report to Congress that highlights some of the significant regulatory burdens facing America’s banking industry.

The House voted by a bipartisan 247-171 margin to pass an ABA-advocated bill expanding the regulatory relief offered under the Federal Reserve’s small bank holding company policy statement.

The House Financial Services Committee today voted by a strong 46-9 margin to advance the bipartisan Data Security Act (H.R. 2205), which would establish a national data security and breach notification standard for financial institutions and retailers.