The banking industry, just like any other, has a culture that will take time to change. Meetings with corporate customers at five star hotels after taking bailout money leaves a bad taste in the mouth of taxpayers and is fodder for reporters, but in reality are peanuts compared to the real issues that need to be addressed by the industry and the government. Credit card companies raising rates and changing terms "because they can" is a good example of an area that is depressing our ... More »

Take the money back and revoke their Banking Papers if they fould up again..cutting them loose from FED FUNDS for good. Lets not forget Paulson was the CEO of Goldman Sachs, that culture NEVER forgets who's buttering the bread and on which side.

If the banks still had the funds to return, presumably they didn't need the bailout in the first place. Now that would a story. The financial boys don't want to pay the piper. So lacking in credit worthiness that they wouldn't qualify for a loan from themselves, the banks dare complain about limits imposed by Congress? These are business people who impose conditions over their borrowing customers every day.

I don't see why the shareholders put up with the enormous salaries and bonuses these vultures pay them selfs.Their has to be an incentive to keep these bastards honest.

At a small, recent private investor meeting, attended by a community bank representative, I learned that thousands of small, well-run community banks all over the country have applied for and received TARP funds, even though they have no operating difficulties and are solvent. It seems that if they do not apply for the funds that they receive a black eye and are viewed by the banking agencies as having the potential to fold. That being said, the funds are being placed in separate ... More »