Banks
Mercer Capital is the nation’s leading financial institution valuation and advisory firm. Mercer Capital assists banks, thrifts, credit unions, and other depository institutions with significant corporate valuation requirements, transaction advisory services, financial reporting, and litigation support services
Recent Work
U.S. Banks
Numerous valuations for transactions with tax compliance implications, such as income, gift, and estate tax
U.S. Banks (Sell Side)
Managing marketing processes that resulted in the sale of community banks to larger publicly traded institutions
Portfolio Valuations
Valuations of equity (common and preferred), debt, and esoteric structured securities issued by banks and held by investment fund clients
U.S. Banks
Valuations for purposes of shares issuances and redemptions, including both voluntary and involuntary transactions
U.S. Banks - Independent Fairness Opinion
Independent fairness opinions on behalf of the board of directors in situations with potential conflicts of interest
Loans
Numerous valuations of loan portfolios with unpaid principal balances of less than $100 million to over $10 billion for financial reporting related to business combinations and periodic fair value disclosures
U.S. Banks
Valuations of loan portfolios and other financial instruments for transactions triggering tax reporting obligations
Investment Management Industry
Due diligence and advisory services to banks executing acquisitions of registered investment advisory firms, trust operations, and similar entities
Goodwill
Determination of the fair value of reporting units for purposes of completing goodwill impairment tests
Mercer Capital is a nationally recognized valuation and advisory firm with deep experience serving banks and other depository institutions. For decades, we have worked with banks of all sizes—community institutions and large, complex organizations alike—providing independent, well-supported analyses that meet regulatory, financial reporting, transaction, and strategic needs.
Our work for banks is grounded in rigorous valuation methodology, a thorough understanding of banking operations and balance sheets, and practical insight into regulatory and accounting frameworks. We routinely assist bank boards, management teams, auditors, attorneys, and regulators by delivering clear, defensible opinions supported by industry-specific data and analysis.
Our professionals combine technical expertise with clear communication, ensuring that complex valuation issues are explained in a way that supports informed decision-making. With a nationwide client base and thousands of completed engagements for depository institutions, Mercer Capital is a trusted independent advisor to banks navigating both routine and high-stakes valuation and advisory matters.
Bank Valuation & Advisory Services
Decades of Experience and Expertise.
Valuation Services for Banks
Mercer Capital pairs analytical rigor with industry knowledge to deliver unique insight into issues facing banks.
Transaction Advisory Services for Banks
In addition to valuation services, Mercer Capital provides transaction advisory and financial advisory services to banks, thrifts, and credit unions.
Litigation Support for Banks
Mercer Capital brings analytical resources and over 40 years of experience to the field of dispute analysis and litigation support.
Financial Reporting for Banks
Mercer Capital provides independent financial reporting valuations for banks for various purposes.
Stress Testing Services for Banks
You can rely on the industry expertise and analytical rigor of Mercer Capital for your stress testing needs.
Relevant transactions
Results that matter.
See how we've helped clients navigate complex transactions and demanding valuation assignments across industries and deal types.
Levo/Heritage
Progressive/B1
Y12/FSB
Palmetto/Southern Bank
One America/Hopetown
Nusenda/Western Heritage
Frist Missouri/Clay County
First Community/Umpqua
CEFCU/Simmons
Advia/Golden Eagle
Simmons/First Texas
Advia/Peoples Bank
Frequently Asked Questions
While there are pros and cons to each, we think you typically need both. Ideally, a firm that has both industry as well as valuation expertise is the smart choice. Mercer Capital has deep bank industry expertise and is a recognized thought leader in the valuation profession. Approximately half of our annual valuation engagements involve financial services companies. Our team is highly experienced, and the leaders who oversee bank-related projects typically have more than 20 years of valuation and financial institution industry expertise.
Our advantages include the following:
We regularly handle similar engagements and have extensive banking industry experience. Mercer Capital annually handles several hundred projects involving financial services companies.
We have an experienced staff. Project leaders for bank engagements typically have over 20 years of valuation and financial institution industry experience.
We provide thought leadership on issues facing financial institutions, including our monthly BankWatch publication and quotations in industry publications such as American Banker and S&P Capital IQ.
Mercer Capital follows professional appraisal standards.
We have the expertise and experience to handle special projects as needed, such as transaction advisory, transaction opinions (such as fairness or solvency opinions); and valuations in the context of both voluntary and involuntary transactions.
Mercer Capital has experience providing independent valuation opinions regarding the fair value of financial assets, intangible assets, and liabilities obtained in business combinations for financial statement reporting purposes. These services include valuations of loans, core deposit and other customer relationship intangible assets, CD portfolios, and various borrowings.
For loan portfolios, valuation analyses consider loan portfolio characteristics (such as loan balances, weighted average coupons, variable or fixed rate structure, future repricing data for variable/adjustable loans, and weighted average maturities); prepayment rates; likelihood of default and loss given default, and discount rates.
For the core deposit and other customer relationship intangible assets, the analysis considers the nature of the customer relationships and their retention characteristics; the economic benefits derived from the acquired customer relationships; and a discount rate to derive the present value of the cash flows over the estimated life of the deposit base.
Mercer Capital is a leading independent ESOP advisory firm with decades of experience serving banks and financial institutions. We provide ESOP valuations, feasibility consulting, and fairness opinions that meet regulatory and fiduciary standards.
Our independence ensures objective, data-driven guidance for ESOP trustees. With deep expertise in corporate finance banking industry matters, and valuation, Mercer Capital delivers comprehensive support through every phase of the ESOP lifecycle—from exploration to post-transaction advisory.
Clients choose Mercer Capital because of our credibility, technical rigor, and commitment to long-term relationships. Whether you’re exploring feasibility or maintaining an established ESOP, our team provides clarity, compliance, and confidence at every step.
Key Contacts
Newsletter
Bank Watch Newsletter
Brought to you by the Financial Institutions Team of Mercer Capital, these monthly newsletters are focused on bank activity in five U.S. regions. Each edition of Bank Watch highlights various banking metrics, including public market indicators, M&A market indicators, and key indices of the top financial institutions in your region, providing insight into financial institution valuation issues.
RESOURCES
Banks Whitepaper Library
Mercer Capital’s whitepaper library for banks offers practical insight into valuation, mergers and acquisitions, capital planning, and strategic issues facing community banks and other depository institutions. Our whitepapers draw on decades of experience advising banks across a wide range of asset sizes, ownership structures, and economic environments. Each paper is designed to address complex topics in a clear, accessible manner, providing bank directors, management teams, and their advisors with thoughtful analysis, industry data, and actionable perspective to support informed decision-making.
WHITEPAPER | Community Bank Mergers: Creating the Potential for Shared Upside
WHITEPAPER | Community Bank Stress Testing
Additional Insights
Bank Watch: January 2026
Some “Slop” About 2025 Bank Stock Performance
Bank Watch: December 2025
Bank M&A in 2026 May Have a 1990s Vibe
Bank Watch: November 2025
Top Three Questions for Potential Bank Acquirers
Bank Watch: October 2025
Evaluating the Buyer’s Shares and The New Frontier of Consumer Credit: Banks vs. Fintechs
Bank Watch: September 2025
2025 Core Deposit Intangibles Update
BankWatch: August 2025
2025 Mid-Year Market Update
Bank Watch: July 2025
From Disruption to Deposits: What Circle’s Rise Signals for Banks
Bank Watch: June 2025
Fairness Opinions: Evaluating a Buyer’s Shares from the Seller’s Perspective - 2025 Update
Bank Watch: May 2025
Dividends and Shareholder Returns | A Ten-Year Lookback
Bank Watch: April 2025
Mortgage Banking’s Next Chapter: Is a Recovery Taking Root?
BankWatch: March 2025
Profitability, Growth and Valuation
Bank Watch: February 2025
A Cautiously Optimistic Outlook for Bank M&A: AOBA 2025 Recap
Bank Watch: January 2025
2024 Recap: Bank Stock Performance
Bank Watch: December 2024
Bank Watch: November 2024
Bank Watch: October 2024
Bank Watch: September 2024
Bank Watch: August 2024
Bank Watch: July 2024
Bank Watch: June 2024
Bank Watch: May 2024
Bank Watch: April 2024
Bank Watch: March 2024
Bank Watch: February 2024
Bank Watch: January 2024
Bank Watch: December 2023
Bank Watch: November 2023
Bank Watch: October 2023
Bank Watch: September 2023
Bank Watch: August 2023
Bank Watch : July 2023
Bank Watch: June 2023
Bank Watch: May 2023
Bank Watch: April 2023
Bank Watch: March 2023
Bank Watch: February 2023
Bank Watch: January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
February 2022
March 2022