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All companies have an implied promise in their brand. For many, the brand is just a word. For others, it represents a commitment to something specific - service, the environment, innovation etc. Most non-universal banks make their brand promise explicit through a mission statement, vision and strategic goals. They look to service as a primary differentiator, and translate it into their culture-related principles and documents. The words typically used to describe the experiences guided by…

The following article was written by Edward D. Herlihy and Richard K. Kim of Wachtel, Lipton The recent approvals by the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency of Bank of Montreal’s acquisition of Bank of the West punctuated a challenging year for obtaining regulatory approvals for bank M&A. Recessionary fears, lower stock valuations and concerns about a highly politicized regulatory environment combined to tamp down merger activity in the sector.…