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Bull by the Horns

Page 53

by Sheila Bair


  elections:

  of 2008, 128–29, 141

  of 2012, 357, 381n

  Ellis, Diane, 23, 233

  Emanuel, Rahm, 142–44, 177, 183, 189, 191, 214, 216

  Enron, collapse of, 12

  Epstein, Keith, 208, 210

  equity, 349

  private, 170

  equity capital, 221

  loss-absorbing capability of, 370n

  Eurobank, 281–82

  Europe:

  banking system of, 123, 221, 327, 335

  Basel II in, 30–40, 257–58, 263, 265

  guaranteed holding company debt in, 113

  leverage of banks in, 33, 40, 220, 263, 356

  recession in, 31

  sovereign debt crisis of, 220–21, 257, 260, 265

  European Central Bank (ECB), 261

  European Union (EU), Basel II supported by, 33–35

  Exchange Stabilization Fund, 108

  executive compensation, restrictions on, 5, 203, 205, 242, 324

  Fannie Mae, 51, 55–56, 70, 119, 124, 135, 147, 149, 151, 184, 244, 347–48, 386n

  Farrell, Diana, 148

  Farwig, Pamela, 298–99

  Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), 2, 165, 251, 280, 357

  achievements of, 355–56

  Advisory Committee on Banking Policy of, 32

  in anti-bailout legislation, 181–99

  assessments by, 335–36

  bad-bank program proposed by, 165, 166–67

  bailouts resisted by, 184, 185, 195, 197, 214–15

  Bair as chairman of, 1, 7, 332, 339, 355

  Bair’s appointment to, 11, 12–16, 297, 300, 339

  Bair’s departure from, 311–21, 359, 361

  banking system liability guarantees pushed for, 111–15

  Basel II opposed by, 30–40, 145, 193, 237–38, 356, 357

  Basel III regulations and, 257–72

  board of directors of, 21, 365n

  BofA bailout and, 126–28

  capital regulation by, 260

  cash needs of, 277

  CFI of, 232

  Citi bailouts and, 121–26, 171–72

  Citi-Merrill deal and, 126–29

  Citi’s proposed stock deal with, 101–3

  concern about subprime mortgages at, 49–51, 53–58

  consumer compliance at, 232

  credit line of, 110, 177, 377n

  Culture Change Council at, 19–20

  debt guarantee program of, 4–5, 6, 111–20, 126, 131, 169, 176, 178–79, 187, 201–2, 208, 287, 301–2, 355, 374n

  deposit insurance premiums, 14, 21–25, 82, 100

  Division of Administration at, 19

  Division of Insurance and Research (DIR) of, 23

  Division of Resolutions and Receiverships at, 20

  Dodd-Frank financial reform law and, 119

  economists at, 198

  emergency lending program of, 207, 215–16

  employee morale problems at, 16–20

  examiners at, 168, 170, 173, 177

  External Affairs office of, 195

  failing financial institutions resolved by, 74–75

  FSOC and, 308n

  funding for, 22, 176–77, 184, 215, 217–19, 226–27, 233, 300–301, 312, 315, 335–36, 340, 353

  in GM bailout, 175–77

  guarantee of, 155, 169

  history of, 12

  Hohlt and, 208

  as independent agency, 143

  IndyMac failure and, 80–82

  inspector general of, 92, 163, 184, 211, 283–84

  insurance function of, 12–13, 27–28

  insured deposits and, see insured deposits

  least-cost test of, 101–2

  on loan restructuring, 65

  loan restructuring proposals of, 131–39, 147–51

  loss protection for, 101–2

  loss-sharing agreements of, 244–45

  media and, 297–310

  MERIT at, 18–19, 20

  minimum reserve requirements of, 227–28

  mortgage guidance threat by, 47

  new administration’s grilling of, 144–45

  no confirmed head for, 345

  nonbank entities and, 182–99

  Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at, 17–18

  offices of, 15

  on overdraft fees, 312, 314, 336

  “pay-for-performance” system at, 18, 20

  perfect record on protecting money by, 83

  proposed regulatory legislation and, 182–99, 213–29

  public confidence and, 117, 292, 313

  public interest protected by, 195

  regional offices of, 311–12

  regulation authority of, 13, 185–86

  regulation of state-chartered institutions by, 213

  reserves of, 22, 23, 25, 103, 118

  resolution process of, 58, 75, 85, 91–92, 96, 99, 118, 119, 123, 159, 169, 182–85, 187–88, 190–91, 194–95, 198, 240–41, 273–91, 298–99, 305, 326, 328, 356, 370n

  Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) and, 115

  restructuring authority of, 329–30

  risk assessment by, 233

  risk to, 91

  rules for officials of, 210

  on securitization, 60, 304

  short-term funding needs of, 110

  smaller bank closings and, 273–95

  staff of, 16–17, 214, 343–45

  and stress tests, 156, 159–60

  stronger lending standards pushed by, 57–58

  Systemic Resolution Advisory Committee of, 327

  transparency policy at, 232–33, 299

  Treasury line of credit for, 110, 177, 217–18, 294, 300

  troubled assets PPIPs of, 158, 161–64

  troubled banks list of, 78–79, 89, 168–69, 171–73

  troubled-loan cleanups by, 162

  and unwinding of 2008 Treasury bailouts, 201–8

  Wachovia crisis and, 95–105

  and WaMu difficulties, 83–94

  Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLB) system, 79–80, 84–85, 90

  Federal Housing Agency (FHA), 136, 245, 250, 345

  Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), 135, 147, 235, 244

  Federal Reserve Act, 377n

  Federal Reserve Board, 4, 16, 73, 75, 183, 235, 280, 326–27, 345, 349, 352, 356, 366n–67n

  antipathy to regulation at, 27, 41, 48

  bank holding companies and, 183, 201, 258

  Basel II and, 31–32, 34, 38–39, 47

  Basel III and, 261–62, 264, 266–69

  Board of Governors of, 86, 145

  BofA’s Merrill acquisition approved by, 127

  CIT and, 178

  Citi and, 90, 125, 168, 172–73

  consumer issues at, 49–50

  consumer rules written by, 336–37

  deregulation supported by, 187

  discount window lending by, 28, 74, 90–91

  on dividend increases, 256

  dividends and, 246

  emergency lending programs of, 215–16

  FDIC’s need to cooperate with, 27

  foreclosures and, 245, 247–48, 253

  HOEPA authority of, 48, 50

  holding companies and, 185

  ideology of market forces at, 41, 48

  large institutions and, 159–60, 185–86, 243

  Lehman Brothers failure and, 107

  lending by, 357

  monetary policy of, 350

  proposed regulatory legislation and, 182–99, 213–16, 218, 220–23, 225, 237–42

  regional banks of, 31

  regulatory capture and, 185

  regulatory failures of, 183, 187

  regulatory function of, 13

  restructuring authority of, 329–30

  securities PPIP of, 161–64

  stress tests proposed by, 155–61

  subprime lending and, 49, 67

  supervision by, 341

  13(3) authority of, 214

  23A waiver by, 17
6

  unlimited banking guarantee and, 111–13, 115, 116–20

  and unwinding 2008 bailouts, 201, 203–7

  Volcker at, 222

  Wachovia and, 96–101, 103, 105

  on WaMu situation, 86, 89

  and winding down of 2008 bailouts, 201, 203, 207

  Federal Reserve System, 366n

  regional banks of, 31, 188, 366n

  see also specific regional banks

  Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation, 365n

  Federal Trade Commission (FTC), 244

  Feingold, Russ, 228

  Feldstein, Martin, 135, 138–39, 372n

  field preemption, 50–51, 368n

  finance companies, 227

  Financial Company Resolution Fund (FCRF), 196

  Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (FCIC), 48, 93, 124–25

  financial holding companies, 117

  financial industry:

  damage to reputation of, 7

  regulation of, 6–7, 8, 21

  Financial Institutions Regulatory Agency (FIRA), 213–14

  financial market utilities, 214

  Financial Services Forum, 192

  Financial Services Roundtable, 24, 192

  Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC), 239, 249–51, 337–39, 353

  Financial Stability Plan, 155–64

  Financial Times, 8, 159, 178, 266

  Financial Times Magazine, 305

  Fine, Camden, 188–89, 293, 315

  First Amendment, 307–8

  Fisher, Richard, 188

  Fishman, Alan, 89–90

  flipping, flippers, 52, 67, 69, 92–93, 278

  Florence Savings Bank (FSB), 209

  Florida, 53, 283

  Forbes, 309

  foreclosure crisis, 58, 60, 150–51, 249

  foreclosures, 7, 67, 253, 304, 319

  documentation for, 248

  housing, 47, 69–71, 117

  independent claims commission for, 250

  losses to lender in, 59

  military personnel and, 254

  moratoriums on, 243–44

  overenforcement of, 243–52

  rates of, 147

  robo-signing of, 243–47, 338–39

  securitization and, 60–66, 71, 133, 136, 332

  super mod for, 250–51

  unnecessary, 236, 249

  wrongful, 243–54

  Fortune, 309

  Fortuño, Luis, 281

  Foster-Massey, Margaret, 320–21

  Fox Business Network, 288

  France:

  Basel II supported by, 33–35

  Basel III discussions and, 260–67, 271

  Frank, Barney, 26, 50

  Bair and FDIC supported by, 144, 192

  Bair’s meeting with, 184–87

  on banking regulation, 183–87, 189, 193, 195, 197–98, 224

  Frankfurt, 259

  Fratto, Tony, 139

  Freddie Mac, 51, 55–56, 70, 119, 124, 135, 147, 149, 151, 184, 244, 347–48, 386n

  free enterprise, 4, 300–301

  free market, 134, 135, 139, 147

  free rider problem, 22

  French, George, 31, 220, 259

  Friend, Amy, 226

  Fritts, Steven, 45

  Frost, Robert, 359

  Frye, Daniel, 165

  full faith and credit, 82

  futures markets, agricultural, 342

  G7, finance ministers and central bank heads of, 113

  G20 countries, 257, 261, 263, 266, 267

  G30 international banking group, 205, 262

  GAO, annual FDIC audits by, 184

  Garn, Jake, 25

  Gasparino, Charles, 288

  Gates, Bill, 157

  Gbowee, Leymah, 308

  GDP growth, 157

  GE Capital, 118

  Geithner, Timothy, 74, 86, 88, 119, 149–50, 177, 244, 250–51, 256, 294, 301, 335, 353, 362

  AIG bonuses and, 181–83

  appointed as Treasury Secretary, 124, 142–44, 363–64

  bailouts supported by, 175, 179–80, 183, 199, 355

  at Bair’s farewell party, 318–19

  Bair’s philosophical differences with, 99–100, 110–11, 113, 283, 304–5, 363–64

  Bair’s removal sought by, 143–45, 147–48

  on Basel III, 258–59, 266–67, 269–70, 356

  Citi and, 122–25, 165, 166–67, 169–71

  Financial Stability Plan of, 155, 158–59, 161, 163–64

  GMAC and, 175–76

  at New York Fed, 2, 4–5, 158, 186

  on regulatory proposals, 181–83, 186–91, 196–98, 214, 216–22, 224–29, 235–36, 239–40

  Senate confirmation of, 147

  TARP funds and, 115–17

  and TARP repayments, 201

  Wachovia crisis and, 96, 99, 105

  General Electric (GE), 118, 176

  General Motors (GM), bailout of, 175–77, 358–59

  General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC), 172, 175–76, 180, 246, 252, 369n

  Mortgage, 243

  Residential, 246

  Gensler, Gary, 142, 147

  Georgetown Law School, 40, 145

  Germany, 309

  Basel II supported by, 33–35

  Basel III discussions and, 260–68, 271–72

  Gerspach, John, 173

  Giamatti, Paul, 319

  Giannoulias, Alexi, 283

  Gigot, Paul, 300–301

  Glass-Steagall Act, 328, 385n

  global settlement, 255

  Golden West, 43, 76

  Goldman Sachs, 2–3, 4, 5, 6, 68, 86, 95, 107, 114, 142, 175, 176, 179, 269

  ShoreBank and, 287–88, 290

  Goldschmid, Harvey, 37

  Goldstein, Jeffrey, 235

  Goodman, Alice, 15

  government capital investments, 4

  government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs), 55–57, 137, 151, 184, 345, 347–48, 359

  debt securities for, 119

  Gramlich, Ned, 49–51

  Grassley, Chuck, 224

  Gray, Andrew, 81, 92, 163, 208, 282, 298, 300, 306

  Great Depression, 9, 55, 135, 155, 291, 328

  FDIC and, 12

  Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) in, 115

  Great Recession of 2008, 8, 55, 71, 273, 276, 281, 285, 291, 325

  Greece, 257, 265, 352

  Green, Matthew, 23

  green shoe, 204

  Greenspan, Alan, 16, 27, 50, 187, 235, 325

  Gruenberg, Martin, 13, 21, 23, 101, 112, 311

  as Bair’s FDIC successor, 318

  on Basel II, 31–32

  Grundhofer, Jerry, 171–74

  Guardian, 8

  Hardnett, Brenda, 15

  Hartigan, Frank, 245

  Hawke, Jerry, 50

  HBO, 319

  Heath, David, 208, 210

  hedge funds, 51, 55, 56, 122, 157, 187, 216, 217, 227, 326, 334, 353, 369n

  new banks chartered by, 277–78

  speculative, 227

  Heid, Mike, 64

  Helms, Jesse, 346

  Hensarling, Jeb, 195

  Heritage Community Bank, 298–99

  Herring, Richard, 366n

  Hess, Jim and Audrey, 299

  Hevesi, Alan, 175

  Hildebrand, Philipp, 263, 264–65, 381n

  Hoenig, Thomas, 188, 385n

  Hohlt, Richard, 208

  holding companies, see bank holding companies; thrift holding companies

  Home Affordable Mortgage Program (HAMP), 149–53, 154

  home owners, home ownership, 349–50, 355

  as low priority, 153, 304

  preservation of, 249

  Home Ownership Equity Protection Act (HOEPA), 48, 50

  Home Ownership Preservation (HOP) loans, 71, 138, 372n

  Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC), 115, 155

  Hong Kong, 280

  Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), 280

  Hope for H
omeowners, 136

  Hope Now alliance, 68–70

  House of Representatives, U.S., 342

  Agricultural Committee of, 342

  Appropriations Committee of, 342–43

  financial reform bill in, 191–92, 199, 213, 217, 219, 222–29

  Financial Services Committee of, 26, 183, 342, 343

  Judiciary Committee of, 193–95

  TARP in, 93

  see also Congress, U.S.; Senate, U.S.

  housing, 340

  affordable, 55, 56, 57

  market downturn in, 26, 62, 67, 76, 115, 273, 339, 347, 359

  shorting of, 369n

  subsidization of, 348

  Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD), 56, 144, 244, 249

  stronger lending standards recommended by, 50

  housing bubble, 8, 42, 44, 53, 57, 283, 349

  housing prices:

  decline in, 26, 46–47, 52, 57, 133–35

  foreclosures and, 133, 134

  loan restructuring and, 250–51, 304

  HSBC, 330

  Hubbard, Glenn, 135

  Huffington, Arianna, 208

  Huffington Post, 208, 325

  Huffington Post Investigative Fund, 208, 307

  Huntsman, Jon, 357

  Hurt, William, 319

  hybrid ARMs, 44–47

  delinquencies on, 62

  modifications for, 62–71

  refinancing of, 44–46

  hybrid debt, 225, 258, 264, 349

  for small banks, 221

  Hyperion Group, 64

  Illinois, 283, 284, 298

  Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation, 285–86

  Immelt, Jeffrey, 118

  income documentation, 80

  Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), 188–89, 215, 293

  Bair’s farewell to, 312, 315–16

  India, 263

  industrial loan charters (ILC), 25

  industrial loans, 43

  IndyMac Bank, 75, 79–82, 84–85, 92, 95, 274–75, 298

  mortgage loan restructuring for, 132, 149, 151–52

  sale to investment consortium of, 279

  supposed high redefault rates for, 144–45, 152

  In Fed We Trust (Wessel), 98

  Ingrassia, Larry, 163

  insolvency, 84, 89

  insolvent institutions, mandatory receivership for, 197

  Institute of International Finance (IIF), 259–60

  insurance, 328, 341

  insurance banks, 285

  insurance companies, 51, 112, 181, 326

  FDIC as, 22

  insured banks, 53, 74, 79, 112, 169, 173, 175, 178, 186, 192, 197, 210, 219–20, 221, 223, 243, 246, 278, 303, 326, 329, 341, 356

  assessments on, 227–28

  bids on failed institutions by, 276

  failure of, 238–39

  financial reports filed with FDIC by, 73

  investments of, 227

  mortgage-backed securities purchased by, 49, 55–56, 57

  regulatory history of, 278

  Volcker Rule and, 222–23

  insured deposits, 17, 74, 77, 81–82, 84, 85, 86, 90, 98, 100, 107, 119, 123–24, 155, 162, 169, 176, 193, 226, 273–75, 277, 282, 314, 330

 

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