Kristin Broughton

Branch acquisitions, once a popular way to scale up in new markets, have started to go by the wayside in the digital age.

The holding company structure makes sense for large banks with complex business models and small banks looking to bulk up through acquisitions. But for a large swath of banks in the middle, the benefits are harder to spot.

The Pittsburgh bank is counting on its acquisition of the Trout Group to help strengthen ties with clients in the life sciences, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device sectors.