This is the fifth edition of Compelling Evidence. These are articles published in the past month dealing with the community banks and developments in this sector. The high cost of regulatory compliance, the need for massive IT spending and a less than robust economy are forcing banks to look for merger partners. The community banks are in a grow or die situation and this will lead to huge profits for investors clever enough to take advantage of it. Those that grow ill see their stocks price go up as a result of higher earnings and dividends while those that sell will do so at a premium to the current stock price.

To make the situation even more attractive there are several bank stock activists who are taking large stakes in certain small banks and pushing for changes that build shareholder value or the outright sale of the bank at a premium price. They have a very high success rate and those who invest in these target banks at an attractive price are in a position to see huge profits.

Take thirty minutes to scan these articles so you can realize that trade of the Decade and Boring Way to Get Rich in Stocks are not just tag lines to help me sell newsletter. They are real, they are happening and with better than 2 decades experience in small banks I can help you take advantage of this unique opportunity.

Scan the articles. Sign up here at a special offer price for Banking on Profits

ASBB Holders pushing for a sale

http://www.thestreet.com/story/13269878/1/asb-bancorps-top-stakeholders-demand-a-sale.html

Growing M&A

http://www.bankdirector.com/index.php/issues/manda/doom-diligence-dont-let-your-due-diligence-hurt-you/

M&A Survival Strategy

http://www.bankdirector.com/index.php/issues/manda/time-to-develop-an-manda-survival-strategy/

Surviving in a Consolidating Sector

http://www.bankdirector.com/index.php/issues/manda/surviving-in-a-consolidating-industry/

Acquisition Strategy

http://www.bankdirector.com/index.php/magazine/archives/growth-issue-2015/boardroom-conversation/

Best Bank Buyers

http://www.bankdirector.com/index.php/magazine/archives/growth-issue-2015/the-top-10-bank-acquirers/

New Wave of M&A

http://www.americanbanker.com/news/dealmaking-strategy/shareholder-activism-could-spur-new-wave-of-m-and-a-1076324-1.html

Hedge fund activist buying bank

http://www.northjersey.com/news/business/hedge-fund-boosts-stake-in-investors-bancorp-to-8-2-1.1396658

Gluttonous Bank

http://www.timyanbankalert.com/2012/08/northeast-community-bancorp-white.html?m=1

Bank Growth Vehicle

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/print-edition/2014/10/10/mechanics-bank-ford-financial-fund-m-a-plans.html?ana=twt

More bank takeovers ahead

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/20/us-banks-m-a-idUSKCN0QP19520150820

Latest targets

http://www.thestreet.com/story/13260086/1/astoria-financial-atlantic-coast-latest-merger-targets-for-pushy-activists.html

Bank stock boogeyman

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=545967#.VdOCvn0jqG0.twitter

Deal Hungry

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2015/08/community-banks-mergers-first-national-fnbg.html?ana=twt

Sweet spot

http://www.bankdirector.com/issues/analyst-forum/is-there-a-sweet-spot-for-bank-stock-pricing

GOP Good for M&A

http://www.bankdirector.com/index.php/issues/manda/could-a-republican-president-mean-more-manda-activity/

Battling the big boys

http://www.businessinsider.com/this-tiny-startup-is-helping-small-banks-take-on-wall-street-2015-8

Small Banks big potential

http://online.barrons.com/articles/small-new-jersey-bank-has-big-upside-1439617211

M&A Opportunity

http://www.bankdirector.com/issues/manda/opportunities-in-growth-and-manda

Grow by Partnering

http://www.bankdirector.com/index.php/committees/lending/how-community-banks-can-grow-loans-by-partnering-with-competitor/

Banks and energy cycle

https://www.snl.com/InteractiveX/Article.aspx?cdid=A-33446915-12587

Vital to growth

http://www.rrstar.com/article/20150808/OPINION/150809575

Bright future?

http://www.bankingexchange.com/blogs-3/community-banking-blog/item/5669-ignore-defeatist-talk-community-bankers

More rules, less banks

http://overlawyered.com/2015/08/thousands-fewer-community-banks-under-dodd-frank/

Demise of the small bank

http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-demise-of-the-small-american-bank-1438382060

Old National on the hunt

http://mibiz.com/item/22754-old-national-could-add-to-gr-presence-in-12-18-months-via-m-a,-expansion

No New banks

http://www.cbinsight.com/only-3-new-u-s-banks-opened-since-2010.html

Bank M&A continues

http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/channels/pipelinepress/06042015-trid-news-bank-mergers.aspx

Bank Local

http://www.cbinsight.com/how-banking-local-can-benefit-you-and-your-community.html

Small Bank M&A

https://www.snl.com/InteractiveX/article.aspx?cdid=A-33403483-11574&KPLT=8

Virginia is for deal makers

https://www.snl.com/InteractiveX/article.aspx?cdid=A-33403577-11825&KPLT=8

Choking the life out of Main Street

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jul/26/camden-fine-americas-regulatory-system-favors-mega/

Community Bank Decline

http://www.cbinsight.com/dodd-frank-community-bank-decline-and-the-effect-on-u-s-cities-and-towns.html

The campaign finance bank

http://www.informz.net/informzdataservice/onlineversion/sto/bmlkPTYzNjQ2OSZzaWQ9MzM3NjE2NTMzJnB0aWQ9OTAx

Deal Trends

https://www.snl.com/InteractiveX/Article.aspx?cdid=A-33290432-14126

Reality Check

http://thefinancialbrand.com/52856/reality-checks-for-community-banks-switching-to-a-digital-model/

Yellen on Community Banks

https://www.cbcfrs.org/articles/2015/q2/conversation-with-yellen

The Perfect Community Bank

http://www.doyouget-it.com/2015/07/14/the-perfect-community-bank/

Can Community Banks Hack it?

http://bankblog.optirate.com/time-to-reinvent-the-community-bank-can-community-banks-still-hack-it/#.VbPWKrNViko

Capital Plans

http://www.bankdirector.com/index.php/issues/strategy/why-your-bank-should-have-a-capital-plan/

Time to buy or time to sell?

http://www.bankdirector.com/index.php/issues/manda/how-to-completely-change-your-future/

Looking for a transformational deal

https://www.snl.com/InteractiveX/Article.aspx?cdid=A-33315262-11832

The weight of compliance costs

https://www.snl.com/InteractiveX/Article.aspx?cdid=A-33279017-12335

Massive headache

https://www.snl.com/InteractiveX/Article.aspx?cdid=A-33267057-11824

States due for a surge

http://online.barrons.com/articles/SB51367578116875004693704580469921342333104

Bank Growth

http://commercialobserver.com/2015/07/sterling-nationals-david-bagatelle-talks-bank-growth-and-lending-strategy/

More smaller deals

http://www.bankingexchange.com/community-banking/c-suite/item/5625-snl-report-mergermakers-target-smaller-banks