Small banks are a major source of credit for small businesses. As banking consolidation continues, will a resulting decline in the presence of small banks adversely affect the availability of that credit?

The consolidation rate in the Federal Reserve's Second District banking markets generally outpaced the national average between 1989 and 1994. Nevertheless, these banking markets remain relatively unconcentrated, with midsized banks increasing their market share at the expense of large banks.

In recent years, the nation's largest bank holding companies have sharply increased their market share of assets. Have these institutions achieved their dominance by expanding their existing subsidiaries or by merging with other bank holding companies? A study of industry data for 1990-99...