Editors' picks for the week include a podcast interview with Jones Day Partner Chip MacDonald; a data dispatch on the U.S. superregionals' second-quarter performance; and features on the recently held KBW Community Bank Investor Conference.

Podcast says scale still matters for small banks, de novos

In the latest episode of the Street Talk podcast, we spoke with Jones Day Partner Chip MacDonald about the potential for regulatory reform and what certain carve-outs could mean for the smaller institutions, including de novo banks.

Superregionals find their balance on Fed hikes' double edge

U.S. superregionals — banks and thrifts with $50 billion to $500 billion in assets — booked another profitable quarter. But with the Federal Reserve having hiked its Fed funds rate four times since December 2015, two questions keep arising: Will net interest margins finally improve? And how will competition for deposits impact bottom lines?

Community banks seeing higher prices in M&A market

The post-election surge in bank stocks is forcing banks to be a little choosier in finding M&A targets.

PwC on how banks are changing the approach to risk management

Driven in part by regulations and needs for enhanced cybersecurity, financial companies are the leaders in an emerging risk management structure known as front-line defense, according to a new risk survey from PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Fed hikes bring deposits into focus at community banks

Community banks at the KBW Community Bank Investor Conference said their focus is shifting to funding as the Federal Reserve normalizes interest rates. One acquisitive company said core deposits are a key factor in evaluating future deals.