Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9 x 5 loaf pan by greasing it.

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl and whisk until well blended.

Mash 2 overripe bananas in a separate bowl until chunky.

In a large bowl, mix the remaining bananas with sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy.

Add melted butter, eggs, and vanilla to the banana-sugar mixture and mix well.

Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined.

Stir in the mashed bananas and chopped pecans, folding them into the batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth the top, tapping it to release air bubbles.

Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, checking for doneness with a toothpick.

Let the banana bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.