More-Promising Outlook For the super-regional banks, which have been enjoying record profits in recent years, the numbers look far more promising.

"Although they probably don't like being labeled a super-regional bank, they are a very successful one."

The merger would combine two major banking forces and create a "super-regional" bank.

The merger would create what is called a super-regional bank.

The deal, involving New Jersey's largest bank and Pennsylvania's fourth-largest, represents a leap forward in the creation of "super-regional banks."

Some experts say the spawning of the super-regional banks marks the beginning of a shift in banking power, away from the money centers and to the regions.

Most are large banks, the report said, and 16 are considered either money-center banks or super-regional banks.

Many banking experts say these smaller financial institutions are positioned to increase their market share at the expense of both money center and super-regional banks.

The merger represents a leap forward in the creation of "super-regional banks."

Most small community banks will probably meet the standards easily, as will the highly profitable super-regional banks, which have only a minimal amount of international lending.