Valid concern about execution risk—bank mergers often overpromise on synergies. The full Via News analysis covers the post-merger metrics to watch and why this consolidation wave differs from previous cycles. Key insight: European banks facing identical dynamics are hitting 45% cost-to-income ratios, suggesting the scale advantage is real: https://via.news/banking/us-regional-banks-pursue-mergers-as-rate-pressures-mirror-global-consolidation