Take it to the bank: regional banks have prospered, but will further rate cuts bring an end to their performance?(Western Regional Banks)

Publication: Buyside

Publication Date: 22-JUN-03

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COPYRIGHT 2003 Adams Business Media

The recent outstanding performance of regional banks has provided some much-needed euphoria for investors. Share prices soared, merger and acquisition activity was strong and even the mood of bankers seemed relatively light. While other companies have been scaling back to no end, banks have cashed in on their solid fundamentals.

D.A. Davidson's Financial Analyst James Bradshaw began his career as a commercial bank examiner for the state of California. His experience has given him unique insight into the complex sector. "Understanding the regulatory mentality and the costs and pressures regulation puts on banks helps me quite a bit," says Bradshaw. "Understanding those key drivers to banks is really a big part of my perspective."

Focusing on banks and thrifts located in the Northwest U.S. has given Bradshaw a diverse universe. "My coverage tends to be bimodally distributed by market cap, and by that I mean there are some very large companies and some up-and-coming players here in the West." Bradshaw covers companies from...

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