Atlas’ Bob Diamond Sees ‘Huge Opportunity’ for Regional Banks

Atlas Merchant Capital Chief Executive Officer Bob Diamond said he sees a “huge opportunity” for US regional banks in the second half of this year.

“It’s a great outlook for the smaller banks,” Diamond said in a Bloomberg Television interview Wednesday. “The environment could not be better.”

Atlas raised about $150 million earlier this year for a fund dedicated to investing in US regional banks. It’s seeking $500 million in total for the fund, according to a securities filing. Deregulation expected under the Trump administration could support a wave of consolidation in the industry, and the number of small banks ...