In the investment world, growth is virtually synonymous with quality. But when it comes to banks, this isn't necessarily true. Bank of America (BAC 1.40%) is a prime example of a bank that was ultimately hurt by its acquisition strategy. In the following video, Motley Fool contributor John Maxfield notes U.S. Bancorp and KeyCorp and explains why the best banks surge in size when times are tough and hold off on aggressive growth when the economy is firing on all cylinders.