The list of potential bank buyers is growing at a faster rate than the ranks of sellers, according to a new research note by KBW Inc.'s Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc.
KBW bank research team on Monday added 12 banks to its list of possible consolidators, adding companies such as BBCN Bancorp Inc. in Los Angeles; Fulton Financial Corp. in Lancaster, Pa.; and German American Bancorp Inc. in Jasper, Ind.
In contrast, only four banks were added to the sellers list: Alliance Financial Corp. in Syracuse, N.Y.; First Defiance Financial Corp. in Defiance, Ohio; Omniamerican Bancorp Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas; and Texas Capital BancShares Inc. in Dallas. Cardinal Financial Corp. in McLean, Va., and
The analysts noted that, so far this year,
The research team, meanwhile, added Cardinal Financial; BankUnited Inc. in Miami Lakes, Fla.; and Heritage Commerce Corp. in San Jose, Calif., to a list of buyers who could end up as sellers.
KBW's other newly added buyer candidates include Berkshire Hills Bancorp Inc. in Pittsfield, Mass.; F.N.B. Corp. in Hermitage, Pa.; Heritage Financial Group Inc. in Albany, Ga.; Oriental Financial Group Inc. in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Pacific Continental Corp. in Eugene, Ore.,; Viewpoint Financial Group in Plano, Texas; Washington Banking Co. in Oak Harbor, Wash., Washington Federal Inc. in Seattle; and Westamerica Bancorp in San Rafael, Calif.