The bank merged with several other small regional banks throughout the 1940s.

These two banks merged in 2003, forming the current bank.

In 2010 the bank merged with other similar institutions as part of Spain's response to the economic crisis.

The bank has merged with several other regional banks over the next decade.

Next spring, the two banks would then merge into a single entity with new stock.

The Fed's decision is just one of several steps required before the two banks can merge.

Three Japanese banks will merge to create the world's largest financial institution.

Even competitors, the theory goes, will benefit as large banks merge.

But it is also true that as big banks get bigger and merge with each other, there are fewer players.

Many banks that handled the bonds have merged out of business.