diff --git a/src/bank_panel.cpp b/src/bank_panel.cpp
index 4f3d5b5..69864c3 100644
--- a/src/bank_panel.cpp
+++ b/src/bank_panel.cpp
@@ -198,7 +198,10 @@ struct CachedThumbnail {
 enum class Region { Pool, Banks };
 
 // What a drag is dropping onto, resolved live under the pointer during a drag.
-enum class DropKind { None, PoolRegion, Tab };
+// BanksRegion fires when the pointer is anywhere in the named-banks grid that is NOT
+// on a specific tab (tab takes precedence — more specific wins). The resolved bank is
+// always shownBankId.
+enum class DropKind { None, PoolRegion, Tab, BanksRegion };
 
 struct PanelState {
     ReaSamplerSession* session = nullptr;
@@ -869,6 +872,15 @@ void paintPanel(HWND hwnd, HDC hdc) {
                            ? "Select or create a named bank."
                            : "This bank is empty. Move samples here from the pool.",
                        g_panel.focusedRegion == Region::Banks, projectDir);
+        // Drop-target highlight for the banks region during a drag. BanksRegion fires
+        // when the pointer is in the grid but not on a specific tab; Tab draws its own
+        // highlight on the individual tab (drawTabStrip above handles that case).
+        if (g_panel.dragging && g_panel.dropKind == DropKind::BanksRegion) {
+            const RECT grid = regionGridRect(region, true);
+            LICE_DrawRect(&bmp, grid.left + 1, grid.top + 1,
+                          grid.right - grid.left - 2, grid.bottom - grid.top - 2,
+                          kColDropTarget, 1.0f, 0);
+        }
     }
 
     drawModeSwitch(&bmp, w);
@@ -1803,6 +1815,16 @@ void updateDropTarget(int x, int y) {
             g_panel.dropBankId = tabs[static_cast<std::size_t>(hit.index)]->id;
             return;
         }
+        // Tab takes precedence over the region; if the point is in the banks region but
+        // not on a specific tab, treat the whole grid as a drop zone for the shown bank.
+        // No valid target when there are no named banks or no shown bank.
+        if (!g_panel.shownBankId.empty() && book() && book()->bank(g_panel.shownBankId)) {
+            if (x >= br.left && x < br.right && y >= br.top && y < br.bottom) {
+                g_panel.dropKind = DropKind::BanksRegion;
+                g_panel.dropBankId = g_panel.shownBankId;
+                return;
+            }
+        }
     }
     if (poolShown()) {
         const RECT pr = poolRegionRect(w, h);
@@ -1838,8 +1860,10 @@ void onLBtnUp(int x, int y) {
     if (g_panel.dragging) {
         updateDropTarget(x, y);
         std::string destId;
-        if (g_panel.dropKind == DropKind::PoolRegion) destId = std::string(kPoolBankId);
-        else if (g_panel.dropKind == DropKind::Tab)   destId = g_panel.dropBankId;
+        if (g_panel.dropKind == DropKind::PoolRegion)   destId = std::string(kPoolBankId);
+        else if (g_panel.dropKind == DropKind::Tab ||
+                 g_panel.dropKind == DropKind::BanksRegion)
+            destId = g_panel.dropBankId;
 
         if (!destId.empty() && destId != g_panel.dragSourceBankId &&
             !g_panel.dragSampleIds.empty()) {