This seems to be another indication that growth targets may be too aggressive. It's more expensive to attract new customers. On the other hand, retaining and developing them typically requires investments in systems, employees and processes that bankers emerging from expense management strategies may not yet be comfortable with.

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Clearly, organic growth is the strategy of choice. But these high expectations are going to create winners and losers. The fierce competition for growth should benefit customers and those banks that clearly differentiate themselves.

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