Executive Summary U.S. banking M&A activity entering Q2 2026 reflects a clear shift from defensive consolidation toward strategic expansion. After several years of cautious dealmaking following the regional banking turmoil of 2023, banks are once again pursuing acquisitions to build scale, expand geographic reach, and diversify revenue streams. Several large transactions illustrate...
Banking mergers and acquisitions in the United States are entering a new phase of activity in 2026, driven by strategic growth plans, regulatory shifts, and continued industry consolidation. For banks in Virginia, whether community banks or regional players, 2026 is shaping up to be a year marked by major deals...
What’s more frustrating than spending weeks interviewing a top candidate only to be ghosted after the job offer? For many banks, this scenario has become increasingly common. The competition for financial talent is intense; experienced candidates have options, and communication drop-off has become a real pain point in banking recruiting. When candidates disappear, hiring stalls. Teams fall behind. Productivity...
What if your next big opportunity isn’t listed anywhere? That’s the reality for most high-level banking and financial services roles. The best opportunities and the best candidates aren’t sitting in job boards or mass talent pools. They’re shared behind closed doors, passed along through relationships, and sealed by trust. If you’re...
The banking industry is undergoing rapid transformation—from compensation concerns to strategic overhauls and shifting business priorities. As recruiters in the Banking & Financial Services space, we’re seeing these trends play out in real time, impacting both employers and candidates. Whether you're navigating M&A changes, strengthening deposit programs, or rethinking...
As the banking and financial services landscape evolves, so do the strategies needed to stay competitive. From avoiding costly hiring mistakes to preparing for leadership transitions, understanding the latest trends can give you a clear advantage. At The Richmond Group USA’s Banking & Financial Services Division, we’re committed to...
As we navigate through a rapidly changing banking landscape, several key recruitment trends have emerged, shaping how financial institutions approach talent acquisition and workforce planning. As The Richmond Group USA's Banking & Financial Services Division, we've been closely monitoring these developments. In this article, we delve into the most...
Why you might not be winning your top candidates over, and what to do to fix it: Like banking, the environment for recruiting moves in cycles, and much of what makes up those cycles comes down to motivation -- motivation to hire and motivation to be hired. Motivations are constantly...
Research and Relax: Initial Interview Prep Guide to make your initial interview a slam dunk Of the hundreds of candidate conversations we have each month, more than 75% tell us they've NEVER thoroughly prepped for an initial interview. For many, this results in a mediocre interview and a low success...
The tables are turning! Here are the four signs we're seeing that suggest we're now in an EMPLOYER-driven marketplace: 1) 7 out of 10 banks, based on our research, are concentrated on controlling costs as recessionary headwinds increase, significantly decreasing the number of options for candidates. Because banks are looking...
Over the past several months of talking with the c-suite in banks from 0-100B, it's interesting how the approach to this marketplace falls squarely into two camps. Here are the two statements we often hear: -this is the time to hunker down -- hold off on new loan growth in...
