Bank M&A rebounded in 2025, and the year ahead promises to be an equally conducive environment for bank deals. For many prospective buyers, however, the biggest obstacle may be finding the right bank to buy.
Almost half of the executives and board members responding to Bank Director’s 2026 Bank M&A Survey said they would be somewhat (28%) or very (17%) likely to buy another bank in 2026. However, 71% of potential acquirers identified a lack of suitable targets as a top barrier to making an acquisition, right behind the pricing expectations of sellers (74%).
“This suggests that a lot of banks are looking for a deal if it’s the right fit, but it’s a challenge to find a suitable target with the right pricing expectations, in your desired market and with the attributes you’re seeking such as an attractive deposit base, complementary culture and relative size,” says Kevin Brand, strategy and transaction advisory partner with Crowe, which sponsored the survey…