Wells Fargo and Citigroup could buy a big regional bank

M&A · Partnership
โดย CNBC·US·Read original
Summary · why it matters

Wells Fargo and Citigroup have room under the national deposits cap to acquire a large regional bank, and five lenders fit the bill. The nation's third- and fourth-largest banks are the only megabanks not barred from such a deal, since JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America already exceed the 10% national deposit threshold. Analysts and bankers say the regulatory window is the most open since the financial crisis, and Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf has signaled openness to a transformative deal, while Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser has emphasized organic growth. The five potential targets are Fifth Third, Huntington, Citizens, KeyCorp, and Regions, with Zions a specific fit for Wells Fargo and First Horizon for Citigroup. However, North America bank merger value fell by more than half to $30.1 billion in the first six months of 2026 compared to the year-earlier period, according to EY data, as rising profits and share prices make sellers reluctant.

Impact on stocks 15

Financials▲ · 13 stocks
Wells Fargo & Company
WFC
± MixedCapitalrelevance

Potential M&A target for acquiring a regional bank, CEO signals openness to transformative deal.

Digital Finance & Tokenization▲ · 2 stocks
Citigroup Inc.
C
± MixedCapitalrelevance

Potential M&A target for acquiring a regional bank, but CEO emphasizes organic growth and deal value fell.

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