The merger of Taishin Financial and Shin Kong Financial has initiated a new 2.0 era of domestic financial mergers, yet other significant deals face obstacles. The domestic financial sector is entering a fierce competitive phase, with many firms striving for expansion amid challenges.

This year, Taiwan's financial holdings have been very active. For instance, Yuanta Financial acquired Prucential Trust in March, followed by Yongfeng Financial's acquisition of Welly Securities for NT$1.628 billion at the end of May, further expanding its securities business. Yuanta's chairman, Huang Nanzhou, has remarked that the financial holding industry is moving into a more competitive era, with firms increasing their efforts to expand.

However, several deals remain stalled, such as the merger attempt between Kai Funds and Antai Bank, which fell through due to disagreements among major shareholders. Similarly, the merger proposal between Yuanta and Nan Shan Life is blocked over ownership concerns. This shows that while there appears to be optimism for mergers in the market, it does not guarantee all plans will succeed.

Up to now, the profitability of domestic financial institutions has also been influenced by external economic factors. Data from April indicates that most financial institutions experienced declines in profits, with only Mega Financial and Taishin Financial showing growth compared to March. The volatility of the market, combined with internal competition and failed mergers, presents significant challenges for the financial landscape this year, reminiscent of the dire situations described in Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities."