2026 is shaping up to be an even busier year for bank mergers and acquisitions than 2025.

Prior to January 8, 2026, 11 such combinations were already completed. Information on those transactions as well as 23 other pending mergers/acquisitions can be found in this week's issue of Jumbo Rate News.

Jumbo Rate News JRN 43:02

Where Did That Bank Go?

If you thought 2025 was a busy year for bank M&A, hold on to your hat. This year is shaping up to be even busier.

After the 2008 crisis, losing about 4% of the industry each year became common. That peaked in 2015 when the U.S. lost over 5% of its banks. We’d have to lose 220 banks this year to break that mark, but we may come close.

On page 2 we have a list of the 11 combinations that were completed between January 1st and January 8th of this year. (They are listed in descending order of combined assets.) On page 5 is a list of 23 others that are in the works, although that number seems to change daily. (These are ordered alphabetically by state and entity of the acquiring bank.)

A prolific purchaser since 1988, you will find 5-Star Prosperity Bank, El Campo, TX (16835) on both pages.

On January 1st, Prosperity Bank’s parent, Prosperity Bancshares, Inc., announced it had completed the acquisition of the $2.6 billion asset 5-Star American Bank N.A., Corpus Christi, TX (20241). While that was pending, it inked another deal (on October 1st) to merge with Southwest Bancshares and its $2.5 billion asset 5-Star Texas Partners Bank, San Antonio, TX (58581).

This transaction is also expected to close in the first quarter. In fact, most of these transactions will.

Another deal of note is the merger between 5-Star Sunflower Bank, N.A., Dallas, TX (4767) and 3-Star First Foundation Bank, Irvine, CA (58647). Sunflower Bank had already expanded into the “highly attractive Southern California marketplace” last April. This transaction will add another 20 branch offices in the vicinity as well as seven in Florida, and one each in Hawaii, Nevada and Texas. Although, the post-merger strategy includes a down-sizing of about $3.4 billion, so we don’t know if all locations will remain open.

Then there are two BIG transactions, both involving Ohio buyers.

5-Star Fifth Third Bank N.A., Cincinnati, OH (6672) will acquire Comerica Incorporated along with its 5-Star Comerica Bank, Dallas, TX (983). The combination will bring Fifth Third up to roughly $290 billion in total assets.

5-Star Huntington National Bank, Columbus, OH (6560)  is also crossing state lines to acquire 5-Star Cadence Bank, Tupelo, MS (11813). 

Huntington had just entered Texas in October with  its acquisition of the $12.7 billion asset 5-Star Veritex Community Bank, Dallas TX (57665) (JRN 42:30).

Cadence Bank was busy itself, acquiring Industry Bancshares, a seven-bank holding company in July (JRN 43:01). Once completed, Huntington will boast assets of $276 billion and operate through 1,624 branch offices.