There has been a great deal of focus recently on banking industry consolidation and its effects on community banks. New analysis based on the FDIC’s functional definition of the community bank shows that these institutions have been highly resilient amid long-term industry consolidation. The rate of attrition among community banks over the past decade has been less than half that of noncommunity banks. When community banks have been acquired, almost two-thirds of the time the acquirer has been another community bank. After more than 30 years of consolidation, the evidence strongly suggests that community banks will continue to carry out their important financial role for the foreseeable future.
Last Updated: January 1, 2014