When Brian T. Moynihan was asked at a November panel discussion who he worried would steal his customers, Bank of America’s chief executive officer looked to the man seated on his right.

“Richard,” he said, nodding to U.S. Bancorp CEO Richard Davis, drawing laughter from the bankers and regulators in the New York ballroom. Then it was William Demchak’s turn to answer. “Yeah, I’d say Richard,” said Demchak, the head of PNC Financial Services Group Inc.