"This book shows how and why deregulation is transforming the size, structure, and geographic range of U.S. banks, the scope of banking services, and the nature of bank-customer relationships. Understanding the origins and persistence of the unique banking regulations that have defined U.S. banking for more than a century lends an important perspective to the economic and political causes and consequences of the current process of deregulation. History helps to define the political constituencies for and against deregulation, the political process through which bank regulations are determined, and the way deregulation likely will affect future bank performance and stability."--BOOK JACKET.