The banking landscape continues to shift as yet another financial institution succumbs to the ongoing turbulence. This time, it’s First Republic Bank, which was seized by authorities and had most of its assets sold to JPMorgan, the country’s leading bank.

First Republic Bank’s collapse is now the second-largest banking failure in US history, following the downfall of Silicon Valley Bank in March. Both banks were midsized California-based lenders with specialized client bases that left them vulnerable to the chaos in the banking sector.

Despite First Republic’s attempts to withstand the storm, the bank faced significant challenges, including a massive $100 billion withdrawal in deposits during Q1 and a 75% drop in share price last week alone. This led the government to step in and close its doors.

However, by quickly securing JPMorgan as a buyer over the weekend, the government was able to avoid the less desirable approach taken with Silicon Valley Bank, where deposits over the federally insured cap of $250,000 had to be protected. JPMorgan has agreed to take on First Republic’s $92 billion in deposits, a favorable outcome considering the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund incurred a $20 billion cost to cover Silicon Valley Bank depositors.

In the grand scheme of things, this government-facilitated acquisition is just one of many examples of larger banks snapping up the assets of struggling smaller banks at a discount this spring. First Citizens Bank scooped up the remnants of Silicon Valley Bank, New York Community Bank acquired assets from Signature Bank, and UBS took on its rival Credit Suisse.

As the banking sector continues to evolve, it’s clear that size and stability are becoming increasingly important for both entrepreneurs and investors. Keep an eye on these developments, as they may provide insights into future opportunities and industry trends.