[george76]

The number of banks in the U.S. has dwindled to its lowest level since the Great Depression ... falling below 7,000 from a peak of more than 18,000.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3316138/posts?page=5#5

[RatRipper]

In the early 1980’s when I became a state bank examiner, there were over 14,000 commercial banks in the US. I now work for a community bank.

The combination of Dodd-Frank legislation, the regulatory enforcement attitude and absurd accounting industry standards and changes have hit community banks hardest by vastly increasing compliance costs, limiting credit availability to consumers and raising the cost of borrowing to consumers. Worst thing about it: it truly is a commie plot.