Since the financial crisis of 2007-2008, South Florida's banking industry* has undergone a transformative consolidation process. Large, out-of-state banks have been steadily gaining market share, many times displacing smaller, local community banks which have been unable to compete against banking juggernauts like Wells Fargo and Bank of America, Miami Metropolitan Area’s largest banks. Mergers and acquisitions activity, as well as FDIC-assisted bank failures, have been pervasive throughout Florida since 2009, leading the nation in bank failures in 2010 with 29 in total. Since 2009 there has been a steady but slow improvement in the banking sector. Asset quality has improved, loan activity has increased and the majority of banks are well capitalized. Nevertheless, banks in South Florida still face considerable challenges. A highly competitive environment with narrow margins, subpar loan growth and a slowdown in mortgage refinancing transactions, have made it difficult for banks to increase income and improve returns.