The number of government-aided U.S. banks in danger of failing has grown about 15% in the past six months, The Wall Street Journal has reported. The economy has continued to batter many struggling institutions, with 98 bailed-out banks -- up from 86 in the second quarter -- now at risk.
As Bank of America continues to cope with fallout from the housing and mortgage crisis, the financial institution may have to pay some year-end employee bonuses in the form of stock because of a possible cash shortfall related to its buy-back of stock from the federal government.
The U.S. government's bailout has been less than effective in helping U.S. homeowners avoid foreclosure and could end up costing more than expected, according to a report from the Troubled Asset Relief Program's special inspector general.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced Thursday that it has sold all of the trust preferred Citigroup shares it held for a net profit to the taxpayer of $2.246 billion. In addition, Treasury also announced it sold 1.5 billion shares of Citigroup common stock, according to a plan announced in July, lowering its stake in the bailed out bank from 18% to 12.4%.
After months of planning, AIG announced Thursday that it had entered into an agreement with the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York about how it will repay in full its obligations to the U.S. government and regain its independence.
American International Group is laying the groundwork for its first debt offering in two years, an offering that could be a key test of whether investors think the insurance giant can stand on its own and ultimately repay U.S. taxpayers for its bailout.
America's bailout program, which was intended to help U.S. banks, greatly helped foreign banks as well, a Congressional watchdog group has concluded. The American government flooded the financial markets with money, aiming to help as many banks as possible, while most foreign nations targeted funds to save individual institutions, often those with no major U.S. operations.
