Four hurdles for bank buyers to clear.

Bank merger-and-acquisition (M&A) activity is expected to rebound in 2024 after a two-year slowdown. However, there are several obstacles that may prevent a full recovery. These include the impact of rising interest rates on bond portfolios, regulatory scrutiny and delays, concerns about credit quality, and uncertainty surrounding the upcoming presidential election. Despite these challenges, experts believe that M&A activity will eventually pick up as banks seek scale and diversification in a competitive market. [Extracted from the article]