These comments come from brief replies that online readers submitted using the "Feedback" feature, which can be found at the top of any story at AmericanBanker.com.
"Why would anyone keep money at a community bank when they can now 'invest' in money market funds that earn a higher rate of return and are entirely guaranteed by the U.S.? Couldn't this be one of many unintended consequences of these decisions? Small banks were already competing hard for deposits. Now that money market funds are insured, it will be even tougher on them."
"Why doesn't the Treasury just go buy up all the distressed residential real estate that are the actual assets behind the bonds? Treasury could buy all the bank-owned properties and current foreclosures (residential only). All the MBS bondholders would have their principal returned, and the housing market could be stabilized."At least this way the government ends up owning assets they understand — real estate."
"It would appear the banker's end game is upon us, with Chase, B of A, and Citi the winners. And Wells, well, they appear not to have any friends in Treasury or the FDIC feeding them the prime cuts from the banking carcass now being carved up by regulators, whose absence these last few years seems almost calculated at this point in the game. Now all the winners need is the Republican cut in capital gains to usher in phase two of the game — steak night at the Savoy. And still, they complain about 'government redistribution of wealth.' "
