Half of Americans Want to Break Up the Big Banks

WASHINGTON — A Rasmussen Reports survey has found that 50% of U.S. adults would favor a plan to break up the largest banks.

The survey, conducted March 19-20 with 1,000 adults, also found that 23% of adults oppose breaking up the biggest banks, while 27% are undecided.

Concern over whether some banks are "too big to fail" has reached fever pitch in recent weeks, with numerous lawmakers and other public officials, including Attorney General Eric Holder, weighing in about the size of the largest institutions.

The report appears to confirm that most of the public is still angry at big banks following the 2008 financial crisis. It also may help build momentum for a pending bill from Sens. David Vitter, R-La., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio,  that is designed to rein in the largest institutions.

Banks did receive at least some good news in an earlier poll conducted by Rasmussen. The polling group surveyed 1,000 adults between March 11 and 12, and found that 53% of Americans are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the banking industry, including 10% that are very confident. The survey found 43% of Americans lack confidence in banks, with 11% saying they are "not at all" confident.

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