I. Introduction Mergers have long been a practice that businessmen have utilized as a way to improve, expand and consolidate their firms. They have come in waves starting as early as the 1800's (Brigham 1080). The bank merger wave, which started in 1980, continues and each new merger is bigger than the last (Dymski XV). Should this merger activity be a cause for concern? Many laws have been passed to regulate and ensure competition within the market. …showed first 75 words of 3380 total…

…showed last 75 words of 3380 total…www.swst.com/invest/features/bankmergers.cfm Peek, Joseph. "Advocacy View Bank Merger' Effect on Small Firm Lendin." February 18, 1998. Http://www.sba.gov/ADVO/press/98-02.html Rotham, Stephen. "What to expect, what to ask when banks are merging." May 8, 2000 wysiwyg://133/http://www.bankrate.com/brm/news/bank/19980619a.asp Scott, David. Wall Street Words. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 1998. Viscusi, Gregory. "Because Merger Begins With Me." Bloomberg- The magazine for Market Professionals; March 2000 Vol 9 No 3.