Bair calls U.S. bank bailout 'not a good thing'
http://www.reuters.com/article/financialsSector/idUSN1348184220091113">Reuters
WASHINGTON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Leading U.S. bank regulator
Sheila Bair said on Friday that the government's capital
injections into the largest banks was "probably not a good
thing."
Bair, the chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp,
said the billions of dollars of capital infusions last year had
a terrible impact on public perception of the financial
industry and government regulators.
"I think at the time it sounded like the right thing to do
and, again, it was part of an international effort, but I just
see all the problems it's created," Bair said during an
interview with PBS NewsHour. "I think we would have tried to
dissuade Treasury from making these capital investments."
(snip)
"It's had a terrible, terrible impact on public attitudes
toward the financial system, toward the regulatory community,"
Bair said. "It's created all sorts of issues about government
ownership of these institutions, what happens if they get in
trouble again."
Soon after populist anger erupted over the capital
injections, banks strove to give back the funds. So far,
Treasury has allowed a handful of the largest banks to return
the government investments, but other firms such as Bank of
America (BAC.N) and Citigroup (C.N) retain large government
ownership stakes.