Bank Merger Talks to Offer Clues to Stricter Scrutiny of Deals

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s Friday bank merger symposium is expected to provide a clearer picture of potential changes to how regulators review proposed bank tie-ups as they consider toughening the process.

While the symposium isn’t expected to result in any new policy, it may provide a glimpse into changes that the OCC, the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., and the Justice Department will make to bank merger reviews, said Patricia McCoy, a Boston College Law School professor.

“It’s one step down the road,” McCoy, who will appear on a panel discussing public benefits, said. ...