In a news release, SNL Financial said the recession changed the operating landscape of large banks, which now face a slew of new regulations and examinations stemming from financial reform bills and regulators. Topping $50 billion in assets can allow for greater reach and scale, but with it comes near-constant scrutiny from regulators and heightened costs.

SNL notes that banks that aspire to be big must now invest millions in reporting system upgrades, management training, and the hiring of compliance personnel, as well as making room for onsite examiners. But those headwinds are not enough to deter some banks set on joining the ranks of the largest U.S. banks.

To view the SNL Financial report,
click here.