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Sunday, March 8, 2009

Don't Be Alarmed, We're the FDIC

Posted by on Sun, Mar 8, 2009 at 8:01 PM

60 Minutes had an interesting report tonight on the FDIC's stealth operations for taking over failing banks. Amazing to watch them come into a bank after the last customer leaves, and simply take over. I had no idea the process was all so hush-hush.

 

Comments (21) RSS

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1
Really? You had no idea they were trying to avoid a run on the bank and hence, being hush-hush?
Posted by frito pie on March 8, 2009 at 8:55 PM
2
What if the FDIC needs a bailout?
Posted by E on March 8, 2009 at 9:29 PM
3
~Sept. 2007, I was traveling and logged in to my bank account on the Sunday morning knowing I'd need cash and saw "The FDIC is closing your bank. Stay tuned for more information." Netbank, which the FDIC handed over to ING Direct.

They handled it beautifully, slowly and thoroughly, but coincidentally I would have been screwed that Sunday if things had been cut too close. They did a very good job, rarely inconveniencing or scary.
Posted by Amelia on March 8, 2009 at 9:40 PM
4
What an interesting, dramatic story.
Posted by brappy on March 8, 2009 at 9:52 PM
5
one of the few things that works from DC - of course - Bush and his pigs let banks off by not paying much in the way of insurance for 10 years, hence, the fund is low

you know another BREAK for the banks to increase the bonus for execs.

if word was out for even a day or two, people would take out money, paperwork would be shredded and all nature of shit would happen before the FDIC had physical control

makes sense to me
Posted by Smith on March 8, 2009 at 9:53 PM
6
Oh, it's hush-hush alright. But what 60 Minutes showed was a story about a bank with five branches. Wonder how different things are when you're seizing a bank with more than 2,000 branches. Media reports at the time said that WaMu's CEO (not Killinger; his short-term replacement Fishman) was on a plane between New York and Seattle.
Posted by waswamu on March 8, 2009 at 10:00 PM
7
Meanwhile, why isn't Sheila Bair getting big promotions in Washington? She's the FDIC chair and is widely credited with seeing the housing debacle coming for years.
Posted by oneway on March 8, 2009 at 10:08 PM
8
Come on -- didn't you know all government activities are bureaucratically inept?

Seriously, that's a beautifully done operation.
Posted by Andy James on March 8, 2009 at 10:11 PM
9

#7

from what I can see, she is the most cogent appointee that Obama has made. a star in the chaos

Posted by Aaron on March 8, 2009 at 10:38 PM
10
Yet another fine example of why I keep my money in a Credit Union. Better staff, better service, no BS sub-prime mortgages.
Posted by Dingo Rossi on March 8, 2009 at 11:40 PM
11
@10: Oh, I'm in a credit union now. A local one.
Posted by Amelia on March 9, 2009 at 12:00 AM
12
@11 caveat: Although for a long time ING Direct had the best interest rates I could find--again kudos to the FDIC for choosing well.
Posted by Amelia on March 9, 2009 at 12:01 AM
13
Congrats on choosing a local credit union!
Posted by Will in Seattle on March 9, 2009 at 12:04 AM
14
this was great, thanks
Posted by PedestrianMe on March 9, 2009 at 12:28 AM
15
Pffff... yet another high-haired tv male last week sporting a black suit, white shirt & golden tie. The first and best version of that was Jim Rogers on Rachel Maddow, 3/3/2009. Far as I can tell, he started that look and he's the only one who succeeded at it. So far.

I do appreciate 60 Minutes' version's collar points, but maybe I'm ten years behind because I live here. (Don't care what's current, as long as it looks interesting/good.)
Posted by Amelia on March 9, 2009 at 12:37 AM
16
Hey! I bet the FDIC is going to be hiring!!! Time to submit my resume'.

BTW, I would LOVE to start a run on B of A. Stand in the lobby and yell "What do you mean you can't give me my money because you are insolevent?"
Posted by Cato the Younger Younger on March 9, 2009 at 5:04 AM
17
@16, I will give you a (Canadian) dollar if you do that. I want to toast marshmallows over their burning corpse. It would be worth bringing down the entire economy.
Posted by fuck BoA on March 9, 2009 at 7:18 AM
18
the FDIC is nuts if they think they'll only need $65 Billion over the next 5 years.
Posted by happy renter on March 9, 2009 at 8:26 AM
19
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Posted by yawp on March 9, 2009 at 9:14 AM
20
So I know my money's safe. How screwed are the people who work in the banks?
Posted by Ben on March 9, 2009 at 11:18 AM
21
@16: BoA (curse them) are like Silvio Berlusconi. Quickly used questionable means to grow too big to fail.
Posted by Amelia on March 9, 2009 at 1:24 PM

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