Ben Plotkin, EVP of Steifel, Nicolaus Weisel, shares his insight on what the future holds for FDIC-assisted transactions, and what that means for M&A activity in 2011.

Bank Director talks with Managing Director Rodney A. Montag about the outlook for FDIC-assisted deals, and how the RAM structure works.

Many community bankers think they will survive just fine despite the increased costs of government regulation and an earnings environment where big banks seem to have all the advantages.

John Duffy, CEO of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. shares his insights on why smaller institutions will continue to struggle with raising equity capital, and discusses the option of exchanging funds from TARP into the new small business lending program.

Bank directors are fatigued, many aren't having much fun anymore, and that's creating an environment where bank acquisitions are going to increase as some bankers just give up.

Bank merger and acquisition activity finally picked up in 2010 after two down years, and the outlook for 2011 is even better.

Recent financial reform (and revised capital standards) has impacted capital structure, valuation and strategic activity as we prepare for what seems inevitable: a coming wave of M&A. So are things really looking up?

Rick Childs, director for Crowe Horwath LLP's financial advisory services group, discusses the pros and cons of traditional M&A vs. FDIC-Assisted transactions as potential growth options in 2011.