TheStreet.com Ratings

New Bank Failures: Week of May 4

twocents@thestreet.com (Philip van Doorn) — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:49 GMT

New bank failures for the week of May 4 include Silverton Bank, Citizens Community Bank and America West Bank, bringing the 2009 total to 32.

Wilbur Ross Details Plan to Buy Toxic Assets

twocents@thestreet.com (Dan Freed) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:35 GMT

Vulture investor Wilbur Ross talks to TheStreet.com about his partnership with Invesco to buy troubled assets through a government program.

New Bank Failures: Week of April 6

twocents@thestreet.com (Philip van Doorn) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:08 GMT

No U.S. banks or thrifts failed last week, as the number of U.S. banks and thrifts closed during 2009 remained at 21.

Undercapitalized Banks and Thrifts

twocents@thestreet.com (Philip van Doorn) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:29 GMT

The ranks of undercapitalized banks continues to grow, according to final data for the fourth quarter.

New Bank Failures: Week of March 30

twocents@thestreet.com (Philip van Doorn) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:27 GMT

New bank failures for the week of March 30 include Omni National Bank of Atlanta, the 21st institution to fail this year.

Who's to Blame for the Economy? Rating Agencies

twocents@thestreet.com (Dan Freed) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:53 GMT

A good measure of who is responsible for getting us into this mess is looking at who got rich off of it. Bond ratings agencies certainly got their share of the take. The fifth in a five-part series on who's to blame for the economic meltdown.

Bailout Banks Look to Escape TARP Trap

twocents@thestreet.com (Laurie Kulikowski) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:07 GMT

A number of smaller banks are beginning to express a desire to give government bailout money back -- and some question whether they even needed it in the first place.

Commercial Real Estate Outlook Sours for Banks

twocents@thestreet.com (Philip van Doorn) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:14 GMT

For many large banks, exposure to souring commercial real estate and construction loans began to reach alarming levels during the fourth quarter of 2008.

Beware Banks' Unfunded TARP Talk

twocents@thestreet.com (Philip van Doorn) — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 13:36 GMT

Colonial BancGroup last week showed investors should be leery of basing investment decisions on companies' statements about government bailout applications.

Cramer: Banks Are Vital to the Market's Psyche

twocents@thestreet.com (Jim Cramer) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:00 GMT

Citigroup, Bank of America and other big banks are too important to let go.

BofA, Citi Show Bank Cash Needs Run Deep

twocents@thestreet.com (Laurie Kulikowski) — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 22:29 GMT

Bank of America and Citigroup this week showed that no matter how much aid the federal government bestows on banks, it may not be enough.

Dividend Cuts On the Way for Banks

twocents@thestreet.com (Philip van Doorn) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:39 GMT

More bank holding companies are likely to cut their dividends in the near future, as some large banks that remained profitable during the first three quarters of 2008 paid out more than they earned.

Hedge Fund Hell: Banks Jockey For Position

twocents@thestreet.com (Dan Freed) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:14 GMT

Hedge funds battered in the credit crunch may still be the best-looking clients out there for banks, who face a dearth of opportunities in the dead M&A and IPO markets.

GMAC's $6B Haul May Open Floodgates

twocents@thestreet.com (Dan Freed) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 22:32 GMT

GMAC's $6 billion federal investment makes the prospects for several less controversial applicants to receive government funds brighter.

Barney Frank: No Foreclosure Aid, No Bailout Funds

twocents@thestreet.com (The Associated Press) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:29 GMT

The Massachusetts Democrat is threatening to tie up the remaining half of the $700 billion financial industry rescue money unless the Bush administration gives some of it to borrowers facing foreclosure.

Problem Bank List Balloons, FDIC Says

twocents@thestreet.com (Laurie Kulikowski) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:36 GMT

The FDIC's list of problem banks jumped nearly 50% as banks profits nearly evaporated in the third quarter, as the credit crisis reached its boiling point, the agency said Tuesday.

S.C. Bank Gets Aid Despite Protest

twocents@thestreet.com (Dan Freed) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:56 GMT

The South Financial Group on Friday said it had received preliminary approval for $347 million in federal aid, despite controversy surrounding a $12 million golden parachute for its former CEO.

TARP Deadline Could Cue Bank M&A

twocents@thestreet.com (Dan Freed) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 21:32 GMT

The Troubled Asset Relief Program's deadline today for banks to apply for preferred equity investments is likely to end up deciding which banks survive and which either fail or get acquired at a bargain basement price.

Paulson: Government Won't Buy Bad Assets

twocents@thestreet.com (The Associated Press) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:47 GMT

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Wednesday the $700 billion government rescue program will not be used to purchase troubled assets as originally planned.

CEO Payday Draws S.C. Governor's Ire

twocents@thestreet.com (Dan Freed) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 16:02 GMT

The South Financial Group CEO Mack Whittle moved up his retirement ahead of the bank's application for federal assistance that would limit executive pay. Gov. Mark Sanford asked federal officials to examine the deal after TheStreet.com broke the story.

AIG To Get $150 Billion Bailout: Reports

twocents@thestreet.com (TSC Staff) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 05:50 GMT

The U.S. government plans to scrap its original $123 billion rescue plan for the insurer and replace it with a new $150 billion package, according to reports.

New York AG Probing Bank Exec Payouts

twocents@thestreet.com (Laurie Kulikowski) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:41 GMT

New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is turning his scrutiny of Wall Street to a new area of focus -- executive compensation at the largest banks receiving equity injections from the U.S. Treasury.

Morgan Stanley: Don't Forget We're A Bank

twocents@thestreet.com (Dan Freed) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 18:02 GMT

Morgan Stanley on Wednesday touted its "broad range of personal banking services," including the $3 billion in CDs it raised in the last four weeks.

Insurers Could Be Next to Get Bailout Help

twocents@thestreet.com (TSC Staff) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:55 GMT

The next beneficiary of the government's $700 billion rescue fund approved by Congress earlier this month could be insurance companies, according to published reports.

Wachovia Posts Big Loss Ahead of Merger

twocents@thestreet.com (TSC Staff) — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 12:58 GMT

Wachovia on Wednesday reported a net loss of $23.9 billion in the third quarter, as the Charlotte, N.C., bank took an $18.8 billion goodwill impairment charge ahead of its planned merger with Wells Fargo.

Ambac Names Wallis CEO

twocents@thestreet.com (Lauren LaCapra) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:31 GMT

David Wallis, a veteran risk officer, will take over for interim chief Michael Callen.

Fed Offering Money for Nothing

twocents@thestreet.com (Debra Borchardt ) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:37 GMT

The Federal Reserve is offering dollars to banks in exchange for their unwanted, illiquid assets, in its expanding campaign to inject liquidity into stalled credit markets.

Paulson Urges Banks to 'Deploy' Capital

twocents@thestreet.com (Laurie Kulikowski) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:47 GMT

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson urged banks that plan to take part in the government capital initiative to "deploy, not hoard" their capital, as he announced the procedures for banks to apply to the program Monday.

Bernanke Calls For Stimulus

twocents@thestreet.com (Lauren LaCapra) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:07 GMT

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Monday told Congress it should consider another round of economic stimulus to battle the economic downturn.

Citi: We'll Deal Another Day

twocents@thestreet.com (Laurie Kulikowski) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:21 GMT

Citigroup, fresh off a defeat in its fight to acquire Wachovia, is in no rush to deploy the $25 billion capital injected this week by the U.S. Treasury.