US Bank M&A Environment Thawing with String of 2024's Biggest Deals

A desire for scale and portfolio diversification, as well as geographic expansion and succession issues, are driving recent appetite, the advisers said. However, the
impending wave of US bank M&A announcements is still far out as the higher-for-longer rate environment, the tougher-than-ever regulatory environment and
challenging market conditions linger.

Until the Federal Reserve moves on rates, mark-to-market is still making deal math tough and keeping many players on the sidelines, said Gary Bronstein, partner
and a leader of the financial services team at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, in an interview with S&P Global Market Intelligence.

"That's not to say the deals aren't going to get done," Bronstein said. "But in terms of opening the floodgates, once the Fed finally gets to the point where it's going
to lower interest rates, things are going to change. And then we're going to see a lot more deal volume."