All the credit card companies are reporting a huge rise in delinquencies. The problem I see is that not only are there more and more defaults of credit cards, but these are the same banks that faced huge losses in the subprime mess.

Most the companies like Citigroup and Chase are going to be raising their rates before new credit card rules go into effect. There is only one company that comes to mind that says that it won’t raise its rates before the new rules go into effect and it is Bank of America.

The problem I am seeing is that with more fees and higher interest rate charges, people are not going to be able to afford their bills even more. So, it seems to me that those people who are facing problems now will almost definitely be defaulting on their high interest credit cards.

Of course, some of the credit card companies are currently telling their customers that if they want to avoid the new rate hikes then they can pay off their credit cards in a small time frame. I have read that most people are having to pay off their debt in 45 days if they want to keep their rates the same.

I just don’t see how people who have thousands of dollars of debt are able to pay off their debts in a matter of less than two months.

So, this brings us back to the issue of defaults that credit card companies will likely be facing in the near future.

Without the ability to increase rates (and mess over the customers that pay their bills on time every month) at the drop of a hat, what will the credit card companies do? How will they make up the amount of money that they will be losing on defaults?

Kenneth Feinberg is the pay czar that is in charge of how the banks that took bailout money are running. When Bank of America proposed to cut pay for its top executives and top paid employees, he gave his own proposal in which he insisted the cash part of their salaries are to be reduced by 94% from the levels they were in 2008.

The letter that Feinberg sent to Bank of America’s chief administrative officer, Steele Alphin, outlined exactly what would be going on with their pay. Here is the summary:

•Retention and guaranteed bonuses are prohibited.

•The majority of one’s paycheck must come in stock awards, which aren’t redeemable for two years.

•Base salary will not exceed $500,000 and on average will be 94% lower than in 2008.

•Total compensation (retirement, fringe benefits, bonuses) will be 62% less than in 2008.

•Long-term bonuses can be awarded, but only after review by the pay czar’s office, and such bonuses must be in the form of restricted stock not redeemable for three years and subject to forfeit if the employee leaves the bank.

•All bonuses can be “clawed back” if the employee is terminated for misconduct or financial statements supporting the bonus turn out to be inaccurate.

Source

Ok, so it’s unlikely that anyone that was making the huge amounts of money that the top executives making would be happy about rules set on how much money that they can make.

I am glad that the pay czar is setting rules on how much money these guys can make. If the banks weren’t operating on the taxpayer’s dollar then perhaps they could be trusted to do whatever they wanted, but are using federal money to pay their employees a crazy salary and huge bonuses, so they can’t be trusted.

Ever wonder what the difference between bankers and pirates are? This little image I dugg is pretty funny in regards to the topic.

Banks have been letting their own companies fail for the past year and the only thing that saves them every time is the government. Unfortunately, the goverment is nowhere to be seen in the image.

It’s good to have a laugh at the expense of banks and the people who run them because, after all, they are the ones who took our taxpayer money and some (like AIG) won’t ever be able to pay it back. I think that the government should take AIG and split it into a lot of different branches then dissolve the non profitable branches. It would be like firing your under-producing employees, it happens.

Image source: Politico

Bank of America reported a $2.24 billion loss in the third quarter of this year today. The latest news has shaken investors and the bank has failed to meet analysts expectations. BofA posted a net income of $704 million, representing 15 cents per diluted share in the third quarter of 2008. Many analysts expected the bank to lose around 7 cents per share in this quarter.

The latest quarter’s loss includes $893 million that was paid back to the United States government for the money borrowed from the TARP funds. It also paid $402 million to end a government guarantee term sheet.

The blame for the loss can be pointed anywhere. Most are putting the blame on the economy. Poor economic conditions are still haunting the financial sector. There are still rising foreclosures and credit card defaults are still on the rise as well.

The bank also charged off a huge amount of loans in the third quarter. Here are some examples:

•Credit card debt 30-plus days past due dropped to 7.4 percent from 7.6 percent in the second quarter. But the bank charged off 12.9 percent of its credit card portfolio, up from 11.7 percent in the second quarter.

•Home equity loans 30-plus days past due were reported at 1.4 percent, compared with 1.3 percent in the second quarter. Charge-offs increased to 5.1 percent, up from 4.7 percent in the second quarter.

•Consumer loans, including auto loans, 30-plus days past due increased to 10.1 percent from 9.9 percent in the second quarter. Charge-offs also increased to 20.3 percent in the third quarter, up from 18.9 percent in the second quarter.

BofA also reports that it charged off $873 million, or 4.67 percent of commercial real estate loans in the third quarter, up from $629 million in the previous quarter.

The bank charged off $796 million in small-business loans, or 17.45 percent, in the latest quarter, up from $773 million in the second quarter.

In other Bank of America news, Kenneth Lewis, exiting CEO of the company, will not be getting paid for work that he has done this year. He will not even be receiving a bonus of any kind. All of this is at the request of the “pay czar.”

Source

Of all the bad that Bank of America has done in the past, at least it is trying to make up for it in the future, or at least they say they are. With the new regulations, Bank of America has decided that it would not hike credit card rates or increase fees before the new law is to go into effect.

New regulations are set to take effect in February. The new laws are meant to reform practices in the credit card industry including limiting banks’ and other lenders’ abilities to raise their fees and rates. It also requires that they give borrowers a greater understanding of the lending process and the costs associated with borrowing through greater disclosure.

The regulations may actually be moved up two months. Lawmakers in Congress have introduced some legislation that would cause the new laws to go into effect on December 1st instead of in February. The reason for the move is that credit card companies are raising rates and charging higher fees ahead of the new laws. Unfortunately for the borrower, the bureaucratic process takes longer than a credit card company’s decision to increase the interest rate on their card.

Some credit card companies have taken it upon themselves to change the terms of their agreements with their borrowers. Discover cards decided that it was going to “transition” some of its fixed interest rate card holders to a less-than-ideal variable rate. It is business practices like this that caused the government to take action against the companies and to set new laws and regulations for the industry.

Bank of America has done a lot in the past to make their customers leave in droves. The company has really taken a more consumer oriented approach in an attempt to gain back some of the customers that it lost when it started the shady business practices that are now being regulated against.

Bank of America was once one of the worst offenders. It was raising rates for customers who never missed a payment and would even pay more than their minimum payment.

Ken Lewis announced yesterday that he would be resigning as CEO of Bank of America effective at the end of the year. At the time of the announcement, there was no replacement in mind.

According to CreditSights Inc. analyst David Hendler had this to say about Lewis, “He’s drifting out to sea like a dying Eskimo, knowing the company can do better and thrive without him.”

Lewis took over as CEO of Bank of America in 2001 and since that time the bank has tripled in size and become the biggest United States lender by assets and deposits. One of the biggest problems that has arisen since he had become CEO is in the past year during the financial crisis, BofA made some pretty bad acquisition decisions. Merrill Lynch has really been a downer for the company and it also acquired subprime lender Countrywide Financial. During his time at the company, he spent over $130 billion on acquisitions alone.

Bank of America has had to find itself coming into its own over this financial fiasco and maybe Ken Lewis can’t see himself at the helm anymore. The rules of banking have changed because of what is happening and definitely what has happened. He was one of the last CEO’s of a major bank (I’m talking about the banks that were deemed too large to fail) to remain in control.

Lewis has also been the target of all the anger people have at the merger with Merrill Lynch and all the controversy that stemmed from it.

While I believe that the company is just as likely to make poor decisions with anyone in control, perhaps a new pair of eyes or someone with a fresh perspective will be able to do more good for the company. After all, Bank of America is still one of the largest banks in the United States (if not the largest) and it can be good again. It just needs to take care of its customers and make sure that it isn’t hemorrhaging money like it has been in the past year.

Source

A lot of public scruitiny has been placed on Bank of America after giving out nearly $6 billion in bonuses to Merrill Lynch executives. Just a week after a trial resulted in a $33 million settlement, in which the bank agreed to pay but admit to no wrongdoing, in the case against BofA, the SEC has decided to go to trial against the company to see that it is properly punished for its actions.

Bank of America was supposed to turn over information regarding the merger yesterday, but instead a top executive is meeting with House Representative Edolphus Towns about the acquisition of Merrill Lynch.

The SEC is looking to charge the bank with additional charges if, through the course of the trial, new evidence is discovered or evidence supports any allegations. It could also begin charging individual executives in the trial.

Bank of America was one of the largest takers of TARP money when the government started dealing out the $700 billion in taxpayer funds. So, of course, when money started going to the companies’ executives the American public got angry. I think it’s a good thing that the SEC has decided to step in because it is nice to know that someone is working on the side of the public…even it is for their own public relations image or to try to damage a company that has embarrassed the system.

Yes, I really do think that Bank of America has done a pretty good job of embarrassing itself and the entire financial system by pulling this very “AIG” move. BofA is really damaging its own reputation with customers and potential customers alike. Anyone who may be a potential customer will probably be so disgusted by the company’s business practices that they will likely turn away and not think twice about banking with the company or getting a credit card through them.

Bank of America is also notoriously bad with current customers as well. Just think about all the stores that have been coming out on TV regarding banks charging overdraft fees over and over against customers; most of the time the bank is BofA. Also, it is in the middle of the “interest rate hike” controversy where the company is raising interest rates for credit card holders and charging the higher interest on previously held balances.

They have yet to do this to anyone I know, but I am fairly skeptical about the company because of all the bad press it has been getting. I am more unwilling to work with the company than I was a year ago, even a month ago. Since the news about the executive pay has surfaced, I’m sure the company has lost a lot of its clientele.

The banks that were supposedly too large to fail last year when the government decided to bail out crumbling banks are now bigger than they were just a year ago. Even with measures in place to try to keep banks from getting too large, somehow these banks have gotten bigger and continue to grow.

J.P. Morgan Chase holds more than $1 out of every single $10 deposit made in the United States. Big surprise, so does Bank of America and Wells Fargo. Along with Citigroup, these banks issue half of the mortgages in the country and two out of every three credit cards.

FDIC chairman Sheila C. Bair has said regarding the weight of the banks on the financial system, “It is at the top of the list of things that need to be fixed. It fed the crisis and it has gotten worse because of the crisis.”

A few problems with these banks being bigger than they once were is that:
1) Consumers will have less choice when it comes to banking services and these banks will likely take advantage of that situation.
2) The bigger the bank, the more likely it is to think that the government will prop it up if things start to go south. This could lead to more risky moves on the banks’ parts.
3) The government’s stakes in these companies is large, but it still does not have voting shares.

Of course, this all came about due to banks failing or otherwise being “too good of a deal to pass up.” Meaning, that banks like Wachovia were simply too cheap with too large of a customer base to not purchase. That’s what Wells Fargo did, and that’s what has been happening all across the banking industry. However, it does seem a bit counter productive when you start to think about it.

These banks were once too large to fail and nothing has changed it seems. The only difference is that every dollar banks are lending is being scrutinized and those who want to borrow money to buy homes or other things are also being scrutinized as hard as the banks are in some situations.

Image Source

$23,148,855,308,184,500.

That is one expensive pack of cigarettes, and apparently, a lot of things. VISA has a bug in its system that recently charged several debit card owners 23 Quadrillion dollars.

A New Hampshire man says he swiped his card at a gas station to purchase a pack of cigarettes and was charged that outrageous amount of money. He went to check his online statement and noticed the huge number and was floored.

To say the dollar amount outright it would be twenty-tree quadrillion, one hundred forty eight trillion, eight hundred fifty five billion, three hundred eight million, one hundred eighty four thousand, five hundred dollars.

He spent two hours on the phone with Bank of America trying to sort out the multi-quadrillion dollar expense and the $15 overdraft fee associated with the bank error.

But, this isn’t the only case like this to be reported. Yesterday the Consumerist reported an eerily similar situation in which a teenager with a Visa BUXX card was able to go to a CVS store and buy $23,148, 855,308,184,500 worth of stuff.

In that case, Visa charged her a $20 over the limit fee and has yet to waive the fee.

Visa needs to stop trying to blame everyone else because they are the only link between the reports. And I personally don’t think that anyone would even be able to buy something (or a group of somethings) that totaled 2,000 times the national debt.

A couple of weeks ago, California decided that it would start having to borrow money from banks using IOUs; since then, many banks have decided that they will not accept the worthless sheets of paper being issued by the nearly bankrupt state.

Now, thousands of California creditors have been left with one less option for cashing IOUs being issued by the state. U.S. Bancorp, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, Bank of America and a handful of others have decided that they won’t be accepting the IOUs, if nothing else, simply because they can’t handle the chance of lending so much money and not being paid back due to their already tarnished image due to federal bailouts.

Some banks like those in the California Bankers Association had hoped that not accepting the IOUs would light a fire under the legislators’ bums and get them to close the deficit more quickly rather than simply making it worse.

The state started issuing IOUs at the beginning of July to help save some money and offset the $26.3 billion deficit. Right now, officials are saying that it is too early to say if the businesses and companies that are getting the IOUs are feeling financial pressure.

“The decision by most major banks to not accept IOUs makes them less liquid, makes it more difficult to turn them into cash,” said Tom Dresslar, spokesman for the state treasurer’s office. “It’s logical to conclude that the potential for hardship has increased.”

So far, nearly 130,000 IOUs have been issued to the tune of $436 million. By the end of July, California expects to issue out $2.9 billion worth of the “registered warrants.”

IOUs being offered by a state is a crazy way to handle business in my opinion, but if this is the only way (which I’m sure it is not) to get things done in the state while it is in a financial crisis then it has to be done.

However, I would like to hear from some readers from California to tell me what they think!

It appears as though the Obama administration is taking steps to make sure financial fiascos like the one we’re coming out of never happens again. It looks as though financial regulations proposed by the president could mean simpler and smaller banks and financial institutions. In the new system, small banks wouldn’t carry the weight of the financial system and if it failed, the only way it could be saved is if it could find help from another bank or investor.

I’m glad to hear that the government is taking steps to keep something like this from happening again, because we all know how popular bailouts were when the government started handing out tens of billions of dollars to failing banks (sarcasm doesn’t always come out the best over written word, but I think many of you know that’s what I was going for).

To avoid having to do that again, President Obama’s regulatory plan is calling for large financial companies to “pay a heavy price for the system-wide risk they pose.” Under the plan, large companies like Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, Bank of America, etc would face much stricter scrutiny and would be required to have more liquid assets as a buffer against a recession or another financial disaster like we have seen in the last year. Also, the banks would be required to anticipate and prepare for their own failure and would be required to draft very detailed descriptions of how to pick the company apart quickly without causing any harm to the overall financial system.

“Without banning them we’re providing some pretty heavy penalties for entering” the top group of institutions that could pose a risk to the entire financial system, said Diana Farrell, deputy director of the White House’s National Economic Council. “The regulator might say to a large institution, ‘Make sure there is very good reason to allow yourself to get that big, or that interconnected, or that complex because the penalties will wipe out any advantages, such as lower cost of capital, you might have.’”

There will be companies that have to just accept the new regulations and deal with them because to compete in the global capital market, some firms have to be large. I would guess that most would limit their size, however.

So, will the government step in to regulate these bonuses? Some of the offending financial companies like Merrill Lynch are under investigation as to why bonuses were paid. Merrill Lynch paid bonuses last year days before it was taken over by Bank of America.

The most disturbing trend, in my opinion, relating to bonuses, are the bonuses paid to executives of banks that are being helped by the government. The government right now has no way to stop executives from getting bonuses from TARP funds.

“Just in the 12 days leading up to the Nov. 24 Citigroup bailout, short selling accounted for over 49% of the total trading volume in that company’s stock. For JPMorgan Chase, it was 41%. Bank of America: 35%. Goldman Sachs: 40%. Morgan Stanley: 37%. Wachovia : 42%. Wells Fargo: 42%.”

Each of these stocks fell by as much as 72% because of the high volumes of short selling.

Mad Money: How Short-Sellers Almost Destroyed U.S. Banking

Bank of America has announced major layoffs, as well as several other companies already. And it isn’t looking good for auto workers as well as several thousand other workers. The economy is just getting worse at this point. President-elect Obama said that things would get worse before they got better and the economy will rebound. We will not be in a recession forever.

December Layoffs Exceed 100K

Just yesterday, estimates came out that said 10,000 jobs would be cut from the payroll, and the cuts would start by the end of the year.

The two companies combined would have more than 260,000 employees, and the majority of the cuts would be expected from Merrill Lynch’s side.

Like I said in a post about WaMu, the employees from the “losing” side knew that some of them would be cut. 30,000 employees of 260,000 is a good amount, but BofA probably was never going to try to run a company with that many employees.

So, if I could make the terms of the bailout, I would make sure that NO executive of any of the bailed out companies would receive any sort of super bonus for leaving the company.

Also, i would like to see legislation passed in the bailout that would prevent any of the banks from holding enough of the market share to collapse the entire financial system.

Another plus is for everyone who willingly and knowingly issued a sub prime mortgage be convicted of some kind of crime. If nothing else, some should be charged with falsifying documents.

If the bailout is passed, hopefully the money will be given to a bipartisan group to decide where the money goes rather than just Paulson.

With the news on Friday, financial stocks rallied.

Here’s the list (If you’re particularly worried about a couple of stocks, try CTRL+F feature):

AAME….. ATLANTIC AMERICAN CORP

AANB….. ABIGAIL ADAMS NATL BANCORP INC

ABBC….. ABINGTON BANCORP INC PA

ABCB….. AMERIS BANCORP

ABCW…. ANCHOR BANCORP WISCONSIN INC

ABK……. AMBAC FINANCIAL GROUP INC

ABNJ….. AMERICAN BANCORP OF NJ INC

ABVA…. ALLIANCE BANKSHARES CORP

ACAP…. AMERICAN PHYSICIANS CAPITAL INC

ACBA…. AMERICAN COMMUNITY BNCSHRS INC

ACE…… ACE LTD

ACFC…. ATLANTIC COAST FED CORP

ACGL…. ARCH CAPITAL GROUP LTD NEW

ADVNA.. ADVANTA CORP

ADVNB.. ADVANTA CORP

AEG…… AEGON N V

AEL……. AMERICAN EQUITY INVT LIFE HLDG C

AET……. AETNA INC NEW

AF……… ASTORIA FINANCIAL CORP

AFFM….. AFFIRMATIVE INSURANCE HLDGS INC

AFG……. AMERICAN FINANCIAL GROUP INC NEW

AFL……. A F L A C INC

AGII…… ARGO GROUP INTL HLDGS LTD

AGO……. ASSURED GUARANTY LTD

AGP…….. AMERIGROUP CORP

AGX……. ARGAN INC

AHD……. ATLAS PIPELINE HOLDINGS L P

AHL……. ASPEN INSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD

AIB…….. ALLIED IRISH BANKS PLC

AIG…….. AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC

AINV…… APOLLO INVESTMENT CORP

AIZ…….. ASSURANT INC

ALL…….. ALLSTATE CORP

ALLB…… ALLIANCE BANCORP INC PA

ALNC…… ALLIANCE FINANCIAL CORP NY

AMCP….. AMCOMP INC NEW

AMFI…… AMCORE FINANCIAL INC

AMG……. AFFILIATED MANAGERS GROUP INC

AMIC…… AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE CORP

AMNB….. AMERICAN NATIONAL BANKSHARES INC

AMP ……. AMERIPRISE FINANCIAL INC

AMPH…. AMERICAN PHYSICIANS SVC GROUP

AMRB…. AMERICAN RIVER BANKSHARES

AMSF…. AMERISAFE INC

AMTD…. T D AMERITRADE HOLDING CORP

ANAT…. AMERICAN NATIONAL INS CO

ANNB…. ANNAPOLIS BANCORP INC

AOC…… AON CORP

APAB….. APPALACHIAN BANCSHARES INC

AROW…. ARROW FINANCIAL CORP

ASBI….. AMERIANA BANCORP

ASFI….. ASTA FUNDING INC

ASFN…. ATLANTIC SOUTHERN FINL GROUP INC

ASRV…. AMERISERV FINANCIAL INC

ATBC…. ATLANTIC BANCGROUP INC

ATLO…. AMES NATL CORP

AUBN…. AUBURN NATIONAL BANCORP

AWBC… AMERICAN WEST BANCORPORATION

AWH…. ALLIED WORLD ASSUR CO HLDGS LTD

AXA ….A X A UAP

AXG…. ATLAS ACQUISITION HOLDINGS CORP

AXS…. AXIS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LTD

BAC…. BANK OF AMERICA CORP

BANF…. BANCFIRST CORP

BANR…. BANNER CORP

BARI…. BANCORP RHODE ISLAND INC

BAYN…. BAY NATIONAL CORP

BBNK…. BRIDGE CAPITAL HOLDINGS

BBT…. B B & T CORP

BBX…. BANKATLANTIC BANCORP INC

BCA…. CORPBANCA

BCAR…. BANK OF THE CAROLINAS CORP

BCBP…. B C B BANCORP INC

BCP…. BROOKE CAPITAL CORP

BCS…. BARCLAYS PLC

BCSB…. B C S B BANCORP INC

BDGE…. BRIDGE BANCORP INC

BEN…. FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC

BERK…. BERKSHIRE BANCORP INC DEL

BFF…. B F C FINANCIAL CORP

BFIN…. BANKFINACIAL CORP

BFNB…. BEACH FIRST NATL BANCSHARES INC

BHB…. BAR HARBOR BANKSHARES

BHBC…. BEVERLY HILLS BANCORP INC

BHLB…. BERKSHIRE HILLS BANCORP INC

BK…. BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON CORP

BKBK…. BRITTON & KOONTZ CAPITAL CORP

BKMU…. BANK MUTUAL CORP NEW

BKOR…. OAK RIDGE FINANCIAL SERVICES INC

BKSC…. BANK SOUTH CAROLINA CORP

BKUNA…. BANKUNITED FINANCIAL CORP

BLX…. BANCO LATINOAMERICANO DE EXP SA

BMRC…. BANK OF MARIN BANCORP

BMTC…. BRYN MAWR BANK CORP

BNCL…. BENEFICIAL MUTUAL BANCORP INC

BNCN…. B N C BANCORP

BNS…. BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA

BNV…. BEVERLY NATIONAL CORP

BOCH…. BANK OF COMMERCE HOLDINGS

BOFI…. B OF I HOLDING INC

BOFL…. BANK OF FLORIDA CORP NAPLES

BOH…. BANK OF HAWAII CORP

BOKF…. B O K FINANCIAL CORP

BOMK…. BANK MCKENNEY VA

BOVA…. BANK OF VIRGINIA

BPFH…. BOSTON PRIVATE FINL HLDS INC

BPSG…. BROADPOINT SECURITIES GROUP INC

BRK…. BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC DEL

BRK…. BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC DEL

BRKL…. BROOKLINE BANCORP INC

BSRR…. SIERRA BANCORP

BTFG…. BANCTRUST FINANCIAL GROUP INC

BUSE…. FIRST BUSEY CORP

BWINA…. BALDWIN & LYONS INC

BWINB…. BALDWIN & LYONS INC

BX…. BLACKSTONE GROUP L P

BXS…. BANCORPSOUTH INC

BYFC…. BROADWAY FINANCIAL CORP DEL

C…. CITIGROUP INC

CAC…. CAMDEN NATIONAL CORP

CACB…. CASCADE BANCORP

CADE…. CADENCE FINANCIAL CORP

CAFI…. CAMCO FINANCIAL CORP

CAPB…. CAPITALSOUTH BANCORP

CAPE…. CAPE FEAR BANK CORP

CART…. CAROLINA TRUST BANK

CARV…. CARVER BANCORP INC

CASB…. CASCADE FINANCIAL CORP

CASH…. META FINANCIAL GROUP INC

CATY…. CATHAY GENERAL BANCORP

CB…. CHUBB CORP

CBAN…. COLONY BANKCORP INC

CBBO…. COLUMBIA BANCORP ORE

CBC…. CAPITOL BANCORP LTD

CBIN…. COMMUNITY BANK SHRS INDIANA INC

CBKN…. CAPITAL BANK CORP NEW

CBNK…. CHICOPEE BANCORP INC

CBON…. COMMUNITY BANCORP

CBU…. COMMUNITY BANK SYSTEM INC

CCBD…. COMMUNITY CENTRAL BANK CORP

CCBG…. CAPITAL CITY BANK GROUP

CCBP…. COMM BANCORP INC

CCFH…. C C F HOLDING COMPANY

CCNE…. C N B FINANCIAL CORP PA

CCOW…. CAPITAL CORP OF THE WEST

CEBK…. CENTRAL BANCORP INC

CFBK…. CENTRAL FEDERAL CORP

CFFC…. COMMUNITY FINANCIAL CORP

CFFI…. C & F FINANCIAL CORP

CFFN…. CAPITOL FEDERAL FINANCIAL

CFNL…. CARDINAL FINANCIAL CORP

CFR…. CULLEN FROST BANKERS INC

CHCO…. CITY HOLDING CO

CHEV…. CHEVIOT FINANCIAL CORP

CHFC…. CHEMICAL FINANCIAL CORP

CI…. C I G N A CORP

CIA…. CITIZENS INC

CINF…. CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORP

CITZ…. C F S BANCORP INC

CIZN…. CITIZENS HOLDING CO

CJBK…. CENTRAL JERSEY BANCORP

CLBH…. CAROLINA BANK HOLDINGS INC

CLFC…. CENTER FINANCIAL CORP

CLMS…. CALAMOS ASSET MANAGEMENT INC

CMA…. COMERICA INC

CME…. C M E GROUP INC

CMFB…. COMMERCEFIRST BANCORP INC

CMGI…. C M G I INC

CMSB…. C M S BANCORP INC

CNA…. C N A FINANCIAL CORP

CNAF…. COMMERCIAL NATIONAL FINL CORP

CNB…. COLONIAL BANCGROUP INC

CNBC…. CENTER BANCORP INC

CNBKA…. CENTURY BANCORP INC

CNC…. CENTENE CORP DEL

CNLA…. COMMUNITY NATL BANK LAKEWAY AREA

CNO…. CONSECO INC

CNS…. COHEN & STEERS INC

COBH…. PENNSYLVANIA COMMERCE BANCORP IN

COBZ…. COBIZ FINANCIAL INC

COLB…. COLUMBIA BANKING SYSTEM INC

COOP…. COOPERATIVE BANCSHARES INC

CORS…. CORUS BANKSHARES INC

COWN…. COWEN GROUP INC

CPBC…. COMMUNITY PARTNERS BANCORP

CPBK…. COMMUNITY CAPITAL CORP

CPF…. CENTRAL PACIFIC FINANCIAL CORP

CPHL…. CASTLEPOINT HOLDINGS LTD

CRBC…. CITIZENS REPUBLIC BANCORP INC

CRFN…. CRESCENT FINANCIAL CORP

CRMH…. C R M HOLDINGS LTD

CRRB…. CARROLLTON BANCORP

CRVL…. CORVEL CORP

CSBC…. CITIZENS SOUTH BANKING CORP DEL

CSBK…. CLIFTON SAVINGS BANCORP INC

CSFL…. CENTERSTATE BANKS OF FLORIDA INC

CSHB…. COMMUNITY SHORES BANK CORP

CSNT…. CRESCENT BANKING CO

CTBC…. CONNECTICUT BANK & TRUST CO

CTBI…. COMMUNITY TRUST BANCORP INC

CTBK…. CITYBANK LYNNWOOD WASHINGTON

CTZN…. CITIZENS FIRST BANCORP INC

CVBF…. C V B FINANCIAL CORP

CVBK…. CENTRAL VIRGINIA BANKSHARES INC

CVCY…. CENTRAL VALLEY COMM BANCORP

CVH…. COVENTRY HEALTH CARE INC

CVLL…. COMMUNITY VALLEY BANCORP

CVLY…. CODORUS VALLEY BANCORP INC

CWBC…. COMMUNITY WEST BANCSHARES

CWBS…. COMMONWEALTH BANKSHARES INC

CWLZ…. COWLITZ BANCORPORATION

CZFC…. CITIZENS FIRST CORP

CZWI…. CITIZENS CMNTY BANCORP INC MD

DB…. DEUTSCHE BANK AG

DCOM…. DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES

DEAR…. DEARBORN BANCORP INC

DFG…. DELPHI FINANCIAL GROUP INC

DGICA…. DONEGAL GROUP INC

DGICB…. DONEGAL GROUP INC

DHIL…. DIAMOND HILL INVESTMENT GRP INC

DLLR…. DOLLAR FINANCIAL CORP

DR…. DARWIN PROFESSIONAL UNDERWRITERS

DSL…. DOWNEY FINANCIAL CORP

DUF…. DUFF & PHELPS CORP NEW

EBSB…. MERIDIAN INTERSTATE BANCORP INC

EBTX…. ENCORE BANCSHRES INC

ECBE…. E C B BANCORP INC

EGBN…. EAGLE BANCORP INC

EIHI…. EASTERN INSURANCE HOLDINGS INC

EII…. ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE ACQUI CORP

EMCI…. E M C INSURANCE GROUP INC

EMITF….. ELBIT IMAGING LTD

ENH…. ENDURANCE SPECIALTY HOLDINGS LTD

ESBF…. E S B FINANCIAL CORP

ESBK…. ELMIRA SAVINGS BANK FSB NY

ESGR…. ENSTAR GROUP LTD

ETFC…. E TRADE FINANCIAL CORP

EV…. EATON VANCE CORP

EVBN…. EVANS BANCORP INC

EVBS…. EASTERN VIRGINIA BANKSHARES INC

EVR…. EVERCORE PARTNERS INC

EWBC…. EAST WEST BANCORP INC

FABK…. FIRST ADVANTAGE BANCORP

FAC…. FIRST ACCEPTANCE CORP

FAF…. FIRST AMERICAN CORP CALIF

FBC…. FLAGSTAR BANCORP INC

FBCM…. F B R CAPITAL MARKETS CORP

FBIZ…. FIRST BUSINESS FINL SVCS INC

FBMI…. FIRSTBANK CORP

FBMS…. FIRST BANCSHARES INC MS

FBNC…. FIRST BANCORP NC

FBP…. FIRST BANCORP P R

FBSI…. FIRST BANCSHARES INC MO

FBSS…. FAUQUIER BANKSHARES INC

FBTC…. FIRST BANCTRUST

FCAL…. FIRST CALIFORNIA FINL GROUP INC

FCAP…. FIRST CAPITAL INC

FCBC…. FIRST COMMUNITY BANCSHARES INC

FCCO…. FIRST COMMUNITY CORP SC

FCCY…. 1ST CONSTITUTION BANCORP

FCFL…. FIRST COMMUNITY BANK CORP AMER

FCNCA…. FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES INC NC

FCVA…. FIRST CAPITAL BANCORP INC VA

FCZA…. FIRST CITIZENS BANC CORP

FDEF…. FIRST DEFIANCE FINANCIAL CORP

FDT…. FEDERAL TRUST CORP

FED…. FIRSTFED FINANCIAL CORP

FFBC…. FIRST FINANCIAL BANCORP OHIO

FFBH…. FIRST FEDERAL BANCSHARES ARK INC

FFCH…. FIRST FINANCIAL HOLDINGS INC

FFCO…. FEDFIRST FINANCIAL CORP

FFDF…. F F D FINANCIAL CORP

FFFD…. NORTH CENTRAL BANCSHARES INC

FFG…. F B L FINANCIAL GROUP INC

FFH…. FAIRFAX FINL HOLDINGS LTD

FFHS…. FIRST FRANKLIN CORP

FFIC…. FLUSHING FINANCIAL CORP

FFIN…. FIRST FINANCIAL BANKSHARES INC

FFKT…. FARMERS CAPITAL BANK CORP

FFKY…. FIRST FINANCIAL SERVICE CORP

FFNM…. FIRST FED NORTHN MI BANCORP INC

FFNW…. FIRST FINANCIAL NORTHWEST INC

FFSX…. FIRST FEDERAL BANKSHARES INC DEL

FHN…. FIRST HORIZON NATIONAL CORP

FIFG…. 1ST INDEPENDENCE FNL GROUP INC

FIG…. FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP L L C

FII…. FEDERATED INVESTORS INC PA

FISI…. FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS INC

FKFS…. FIRST KEYSTONE FINANCIAL INC

FLIC…. FIRST LONG ISLAND CORP

FMAR…. FIRST MARINER BANCORP

FMBI…. FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP DE

FMER…. FIRSTMERIT CORP

FMFC…. FIRST M & F CORP

FNB…. F N B CORP PA

FNBN…. F N B UNITED CORP

FNFG…. FIRST NIAGARA FINL GROUP INC NEW

FNLC…. FIRST BANCORP INC ME

FNM…. FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSN

FNSC…. FIRST NATIONAL BANCSHARES INC SC

FPBI…. F P B BANCORP INC

FPBN…. 1ST PACIFIC BANCORP CA

FPFC…. FIRST PLACE FINANCIAL CORP NM

FPIC…. F P I C INSURANCE GROUP INC

FPTB…. FIRST PACTRUST BANCORP INC

FRBK…. REPUBLIC FIRST BANCORP INC

FRE…. FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORP

FRGB…. FIRST REGIONAL BANCORP

FRME…. FIRST MERCHANTS CORP

FSBI…. FIDELITY BANCORP INC

FSBK…. FIRST SOUTH BANCORP INC

FSGI…. FIRST SECURITY GROUP INC

FSNM…. FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION

FTBK…. FRONTIER FINANCIAL CORP

FULT…. FULTON FINANCIAL CORP PA

FUNC…. FIRST UNITED CORP

FWV…. FIRST WEST VIRGINIA BANCORP INC

FXCB…. FOX CHASE BANCORP INC

GABC…. GERMAN AMERICAN BANCORP INC

GAN…. GAINSCO INC

GBCI…. GLACIER BANCORP INC NEW

GBH…. GREEN BUILDERS INC

GBL…. GAMCO INVESTORS INC

GBNK…. GUARANTY BANCORP

GBTS…. GATEWAY FINANCIAL HLDGS INC

GCA…. GLOBAL CASH ACCESS HOLDINGS INC

GFED…. GUARANTY FEDERAL BANCSHARES INC

GFIG…. G F I GROUP INC

GFLB…. GREAT FLORIDA BANK

GGAL…. GRUPO FINANCIERO GALICIA S A

GHL…. GREENHILL & CO INC

GIW…. WILBER CORP

GLBZ….. GLEN BURNIE BANCORP

GLRE…. GREENLIGHT CAPITAL RE LTD

GNW…. GENWORTH FINANCIAL INC

GOV…. GOUVERNEUR BANCORP INC

GRAN…. BANK GRANITE CORP

GRNB…. GREEN BANKSHARES INC

GROW…. U S GLOBAL INVESTORS INC

GS…. GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC

GSBC…. GREAT SOUTHERN BANCORP INC

GSLA…. G S FINANCIAL CORP

GTS…. TRIPLE S MANAGEMENT CORP

HABC…. HABERSHAM BANCORP INC

HAFC… HANMI FINANCIAL CORP

HALL…. HALLMARK FINANCIAL SERVICES INC

HARL…. HARLEYSVILLE SAVINGS FINAN CORP

HAXS…. HEALTHAXIS INC

HBAN…. HUNTINGTON BANCSHARES INC

HBHC…. HANCOCK HOLDING CO

HBNK…. HAMPDEN BANCORP INC

HBOS…. HERITAGE FINANCIAL GROUP

HCBK…. HUDSON CITY BANCORP INC

HCC…. H C C INSURANCE HOLDINGS INC

HEOP…. HERITAGE OAKS BANCORP

HFBC…. HOPFED BANCORP INC

HFFC…. H F FINANCIAL CORP

HFWA…. HERITAGE FINANCIAL CORP WA

HGIC…. HARLEYSVILLE GROUP INC

HIFS…. HINGHAM INSTITUTION FOR SVGS MA

HMN…. HORACE MANN EDUCATORS CORP NEW

HMNF…. H M N FINANCIAL INC

HMPR…. HAMPTON ROADS BANKSHARES INC

HNBC…. HARLEYSVILLE NATIONAL CORP PA

HNT…. HEALTH NET INC

HOMB…. HOME BANCSHARES INC

HOME…. HOME FEDERAL BANCORP INC MD

HRZB…. HORIZON FINANCIAL CORP WASH

HS…. HEALTHSPRING INC

HTBK…. HERITAGE COMMERCE CORP

HTH…. HILLTOP HOLDINGS INC

HTLF…. HEARTLAND FINANCIAL USA INC

HUM…. HUMANA INC

HWBK…. HAWTHORN BANCSHARES INC

HWFG…. HARRINGTON WEST FINANCIAL GRP IN

IAAC…. INTERNATIONAL ASSETS HLDG CORP

IBCA…. INTERVEST BANCSHARES CORP

IBCP…. INDEPENDENT BANK CORP MICH

IBKC…. IBERIABANK CORP

IBKR…. INTERACTIVE BROKERS GROUP INC

IBNK…. INTEGRA BANK CORP

IBOC… INTERNATIONAL BANCSHARES CORP

ICE…. INTERCONTINENTALEXCHANGE INC

ICH…. INVESTORS CAPITAL HOLDINGS LTD

IFC…. IRWIN FINANCIAL CORP

IFSB…. INDEPENDENCE FEDERAL SAVINGS BK

IHC…. INDEPENDENCE HOLDING CO NEW

IMP…. IMPERIAL CAPITAL BANCORP INC

INCB…. INDIANA COMMUNITY BANCORP

INDB…. INDEPENDENT BANK CORP MA

ING…. I N G GROEP N V

IPCC…. INFINITY PROPERTY & CASUALTY COR

IPCR…. I P C HOLDINGS LTD

IRE…. IRELAND BANK

ITC… I T C HOLDINGS CORP

ITG…. INVESTMENT TECHNOLOGY GP INC NEW

ITIC…. INVESTORS TITLE CO

JAXB…. JACKSONVILLE BANCORP INC FL

JEF…. JEFFERIES GROUP INC NEW

JFBC…. JEFFERSONVILLE BANCORP

JFBI…. JEFFERSON BANCSHARES INC TENN

JLI…. JESUP & LAMONT INC

JMP…. J M P GROUP INC

JNS…. JANUS CAP GROUP INC

JPM…. JPMORGAN CHASE & CO

JXSB…. JACKSONVILLE BANCORP INC

KCLI…. KANSAS CITY LIFE INS CO

KENT…. KENT FINANCIAL SERVICES INC

KEY…. KEYCORP NEW

KFED…. K FED BANCORP

KFFB…. KENTUCKY FIRST FEDERAL BANCORP

KFS…. KINGSWAY FINANCIAL SERVICES INC

KRNY…. KEARNY FINANCIAL CORP

L…. LOEWS CORP

LAB…. LABRANCHE & CO INC

LABC…. LOUISIANA BANCORP INC

LARK…. LANDMARK BANCORP INC

LAZ…. LAZARD LTD

LBBB…. LIBERTY BELL BK CHERRY HILL NJ

LBCP…. LIBERTY BANCORP INC MO

LEGC…. LEGACY BANCORP INC

LEH…. LEHMAN BROTHERS HOLDINGS INC

LFC…. CHINA LIFE INSURANCE CO LTD

LION…. FIDELITY SOUTHERN CORP NEW

LKFN…. LAKELAND FINANCIAL CORP

LNC…. LINCOLN NATIONAL CORP IN

LNCB…. LINCOLN BANCORP IND

LPSB…. LAPORTE BANCORP INC

LSBI…. L S B FINANCIAL CORP

LSBK…. LAKE SHORE BANCORP INC

LSBX…. L S B CORP

LTS…. LADENBURG THALMANN FIN SVCS INC

LUK…. LEUCADIA NATIONAL CORP

LYG…. LLOYDS TSB GROUP PLC

MAIN…. MAIN STREET CAPITAL CORP

MASB…. MASSBANK CORP

MBFI…. M B FINANCIAL INC NEW

MBHI…. MIDWEST BANC HOLDINGS INC

MBI…. MBIA INC

MBP…. MID PENN BANCORP INC

MBR…. MERCANTILE BANCORP INC

MBRG…. MIDDLEBURG FINANCIAL CORP

MBTF…. M B T FINANCIAL CORP

MBVA…. MILLENNIUM BANKSHARES CORP

MBVT…. MERCHANTS BANCSHARES INC

MBWM…. MERCANTILE BANK CORP

MCBF…. MONARCH COMMUNITY BANCORP INC

MCBI…. METROCORP BANCSHARES INC

MCGC…. M C G CAPITAL CORP

MCY…. MERCURY GENERAL CORP NEW

MER….. MERRILL LYNCH & CO INC

MERR…. MERRIMAN CURHAN FORD GROUP INC

MF…. M F GLOBAL LTD

MFC…. MANULIFE FINANCIAL CORP

MFLR…. MAYFLOWER BANCORP INC

MFNC…. MACKINAC FINANCIAL CORP

MFSF…. MUTUALFIRST FINL INC

MGYR…. MAGYAR BANCORP INC

MHLD…. MAIDEN HOLDNGS LTD

MI…. MARSHALL & ILSLEY CORP NEW

MIG…. MEADOWBROOK INSURANCE GROUP INC

MIGP…. MERCER INSURANCE GROUP INC

MKL…. MARKEL CORP

MKTX…. MARKETAXESS HLDGS INC

MNRK…. MONARCH FINANCIAL HOLDINGS INC

MOFG…. MIDWESTONE FINANCIAL GRP INC NEW

MOH…. MOLINA HEALTHCARE INC

MORN…. MORNINGSTAR INC

MRH…. MONTPELIER RES HOLDINGS LTD

MROE…. MONROE BANCORP

MS…. MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER & CO

MSBF…. M S B FINANCIAL CORP

MSFG…. MAINSOURCE FINANCIAL GROUP INC

MSL…. MIDSOUTH BANCORP INC

MTG…. M G I C INVESTMENT CORP WIS

MTU…. MITSUBISHI UFJ FINANCIAL GP INC

MXGL…. MAX CAPITAL GROUP LTD

NAHC…. NATIONAL ATLANTIC HOLDINGS CORP

NAL…. NEWALLIANCE BANCSHARES INC

NARA…. NARA BANCORP INC

NATL…. NATIONAL INTERSTATE CORP

NAVG…. NAVIGATORS GROUP INC

NBBC…. NEWBRIDGE BANCORP

NBN…. NORTHEAST BANCORP

NBTB…. N B T BANCORP INC

NBTF….. N B & T FINANCIAL GROUP INC

NCBC…. NEW CENTURY BANCORP INC NC

NCC…. NATIONAL CITY CORP

NDAQ…. NASDAQ O M X GROUP INC

NEBS…. NEW ENGLAND BANCSHARES INC

NECB…. NORTHEAST COMMUNITY BANCORP INC

NEWT….. NEWTEK BUSINESS SVCS INC

NFBK….. NORTHFIELD BANCORP INC

NFS…. NATIONWIDE FINANCIAL SERVICES IN

NFSB…. NEWPORT BANCORP INC

NHTB…. NEW HAMPSHIRE THRIFT BNCSHRS INC

NICK…. NICHOLAS FINANCIAL INC

NITE…. KNIGHT CAPITAL GROUP INC

NKSH…. NATIONAL BANKSHARES INC

NMR…. NOMURA HOLDINGS INC

NMX…. NYMEX HOLDINGS INC

NOVB…. NORTH VALLEY BANCORP

NPBC…. NATIONAL PENN BANCSHARES INC

NRIM…. NORTHRIM BANCORP INC

NSEC…. NATIONAL SECURITY GROUP INC

NSFC…. NORTHERN STATES FINANCIAL CORP

NSH…. NUSTAR G P HOLDINGS LLC

NTQ…. N T R ACQUISITION CO

NTRS…. NORTHERN TRUST CORP

NVSL…. NAUGATUCK VLY FINANCIAL CORP

NWFL…. NORWOOD FINANCIAL CORP

NWLIA…. NATIONAL WESTERN LIFE INS CO

NWSB…. NORTHWEST BANCORP INC PA

NXTY….. NEXITY FINANCIAL CORP

NYB…. NEW YORK COMMUNITY BANCORP INC

NYM…. N Y M A G I C INC

NYX…. N Y S E EURONEXT

OCFC…. OCEANFIRST FINANCIAL CORP

OFG…. ORIENTAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC

OKSB…. SOUTHWEST BANCORP INC OKLA

OLBK…. OLD LINE BANCSHARES

OLCB…. OHIO LEGACY CORP

ONB…. OLD NATIONAL BANCORP

ONFC…. ONEIDA FINANCIAL CORP

OPHC…. OPTIMUMBANK HOLDINGS INC

OPOF…. OLD POINT FINL CORP

OPY…. OPPENHEIMER HOLDINGS INC

ORH…. ODYSSEY RE HOLDINGS CORP

ORI…. OLD REPUBLIC INTERNATIONAL CORP

ORIT…. ORITANI FINANCIAL CORP

OSBC…. OLD SECOND BANCORP INC

OSBK…. OSAGE BANCSHARES INC

OSHC…. OCEAN SHORE HOLDING CO

OVBC…. OHIO VALLEY BANC CORP

OXPS…. OPTIONSXPRESS HOLDINGS INC

OZM…. OCH ZIFF CAPITAL MANGMNT GRP LLC

OZRK…. BANK OF THE OZARKS INC

PABK…. P A B BANKSHARES INC

PACW…. PACWEST BANCORP DE

PBCI…. PAMRAPO BANCORP INC

PBCT…. PEOPLES UNITED FINANCIAL INC

PBHC…. PATHFINDER BANCORP INC

PBIB…. PORTER BANCORP INC

PBIP…. PRUDENTIAL BANCORP INC PA

PBKS…. PROVIDENT BANKSHARES CORP

PBNY…. PROVIDENT NEW YORK BANCORP

PCBC…. PACIFIC CAPITAL BANCORP NEW

PCBI…. PEOPLES COMMUNITY BANCORP INC

PCBK…. PACIFIC CONTINENTAL CORP

PCBS…. PROVIDENT COMMUNITY BANCSHRS INC

PEBK…. PEOPLES BANCORP NC INC

PEBO…. PEOPLES BANCORP INC

PFBC…. PREFERRED BANK LOS ANGELES

PFBI…. PREMIER FINANCIAL BANCORP INC

PFBX…. PEOPLES FINANCIAL CORP

PFED…. PARK BANCORP INC

PFG…. PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC

PFS…. PROVIDENT FINANCIAL SVCS INC

PGR…. PROGRESSIVE CORP OH

PHLY…. PHILADELPHIA CONSOLIDATED HLG CO

PICO….. P I C O HOLDINGS INC

PJC…. PIPER JAFFRAY COMPANIES

PKBK…. PARKE BANCORP INC

PL…. PROTECTIVE LIFE CORP

PLCC…. PAULSON CAPITAL CORP

PLFE…. PRESIDENTIAL LIFE CORP

PMACA…. P M A CAPITAL CORP

PMBC…. PACIFIC MERCANTILE BANCORP

PMI…. P M I GROUP INC

PNBC…. PRINCETON NATIONAL BANCORP INC

PNBK…. PATRIOT NATIONAL BANCORP INC

PNC…. P N C FINANCIAL SERVICES GRP INC

PNFP…. PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS INC

PNSN…. PENSON WORLDWIDE INC

PNX…. PHOENIX COS INC

PPBI…. PACIFIC PREMIER BANCORP INC

PRA…. PROASSURANCE CORP

PRE…. PARTNERRE LTD

PRK…. PARK NATIONAL CORP

PROS…. PROCENTURY CORP

PROV…. PROVIDENT FINANCIAL HOLDINGS INC

PRSP…. PROSPERITY BANCSHARES INC

PRU…. PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL INC

PRWT…. PREMIERWEST BANCORP

PSBC…. PACIFIC STATE BANCORP

PSBH…. PSB HOLDINGS INC

PSEC…. PROSPECT CAPITAL CORP

PTA…. PENN TREATY AMERICAN CORP

PTP…. PLATINUM UNDERWRITERS HLDGS LTD

PUK…. PRUDENTIAL PLC

PULB…. PULASKI FINANCIAL CORP

PVFC…. P V F CAPITAL CORP

PVSA…. PARKVALE FINANCIAL CORP

PVTB…. PRIVATEBANCORP INC

PWOD…. PENNS WOODS BANCORP INC

PZN…. PZENA INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT INC

QCRH…. Q C R HOLDINGS INC

QNTA…. QUANTA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LTD

RAMR…. R A M HOLDINGS LTD

RBCAA…. REPUBLIC BANCORP INC KY

RBNF….. RUBAN FINANCIAL CORP

RBPAA…. ROYAL BANCSHARES PA INC

RBS…. ROYAL BANK SCOTLAND GROUP PLC

RCBK…. RIVER CITY BANK

RCKB…. ROCKVILLE FINANCIAL INC

RDN…. RADIAN GROUP INC

RE…. EVEREST RE GROUP LTD

RF…. REGIONS FINANCIAL CORP NEW

RGA…. REINSURANCE GROUP OF AMERICA INC

RIVR…. RIVER VALLEY BANCORP

RJF…. RAYMOND JAMES FINANCIAL INC

RKH…. REGIONAL BANK HOLDRS TRUST

RLI…. R L I CORP

RNR…. RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGS LTD

RNST…. RENASANT CORP

RODM…. RODMAN & RENSHAW CAP GRP INC NEW

ROMA….. ROMA FINANCIAL CORP

ROME…. ROME BANCORP INC

RPFG….. RAINIER PACIFIC FINL GROUP INC

RVSB….. RIVERVIEW BANCORP INC

RY…. ROYAL BANK CANADA MONTREAL QUE

SAF…. SAFECO CORP

SAFT…. SAFETY INSURANCE GROUP INC

SAL …. SALISBURY BANCORP INC

SAMB…. SUN AMERICAN BANCORP

SASR…. SANDY SPRING BANCORP INC

SAVB…. SAVANNAH BANCORP INC

SBBX…. SUSSEX BANCORP

SBCF…. SEACOAST BANKING CORP FLA

SBIB…. STERLING BANCSHARES INC

SBKC…. SECURITY BANK CORP

SBNY…. SIGNATURE BANK NEW YORK N Y

SBP…. SANTANDER BANCORP

SBSI…. SOUTHSIDE BANCSHARES INC

SCA…. SECURITY CAPITAL ASSURANCE LTD

SCB…. COMMUNITY BANKSHARES INC S C

SCBT…. S C B T FINANCIAL CORP

SCHW…. SCHWAB CHARLES CORP NEW

SCMF…. SOUTHERN COMMUNITY FINCL CORP

SEAB….. SEABRIGHT INSURANCE HOLDINGS INC

SF…. STIFEL FINANCIAL CORP

SFG…. STANCORP FINANCIAL GROUP INC

SFNC…. SIMMONS 1ST NATIONAL CORP

SFST…. SOUTHERN FIRST BANCSHARES INC

SGB…. SOUTHWEST GEORGIA FINANCIAL CORP

SHG…. SHINHAN FINANCIAL GROUP CO LTD

SIEB…. SIEBERT FINANCIAL CORP

SIFI…. SI FINANCIAL GROUP INC

SIGI…. SELECTIVE INSURANCE GROUP INC

SIVB…. S V B FINANCIAL GROUP

SLF…. SUN LIFE FINANCIAL INC

SLM…. S L M CORP

SMBC…. SOUTHERN MISSOURI BANCORP INC

SMCG….. MILLENNIUM INDIA ACQUISIT CO INC

SMHG…. SANDERS MORRIS HARRIS GROUP INC

SMMF…. SUMMIT FINANCIAL GROUP INC

SMTB…. SMITHTOWN BANCORP INC

SNBC…. SUN BANCORP INC

SNV…. SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP

SOCB…. SOUTHCOAST FINANCIAL CORP

SOMH…. SOMERSET HILLS BANCORP

SONA…. SOUTHERN NATIONAL BANCORP VA INC

SOV…. SOVEREIGN BANCORP INC

SRCE…. 1ST SOURCE CORP

SSBI SUMMIT STATE BANK

SSBX…. SILVER STATE BANCORP

SSFN…. STEWARDSHIP FINANCIAL CORP

STBA…. S & T BANCORP INC

STBC…. STATE BANCORP INC NY

STBK…. STERLING BANKS INC

STEL…. STELLARONE CORP

STFC…. STATE AUTO FINANCIAL CORP

STI…. SUNTRUST BANKS INC

STL…. STERLING BANCORP

STSA…. STERLING FINANCIAL CORP WASH

STT…. STATE STREET CORP

STU…. STUDENT LOAN CORP

SUAI…. SPECIALTY UNDERWRITERS ALL INC

SUBK…. SUFFOLK BANCORP

SUFB…. SUFFOLK FIRST BANK VA

SUPR…. SUPERIOR BANCORP

SUR…. C N A SURETY CORP

SUSQ…. SUSQUEHANNA BANCSHARES INC PA

SVBI…. SEVERN BANCORP INC MD

SWS…. S W S GROUP INC

SYBT…. S Y BANCORP INC

TAMB…. TAMALPAIS BANCORP

TAQ…. TRANSFORMA ACQUISITION GROUP INC

TAYC…. TAYLOR CAPITAL GROUP INC

TBBK…. BANCORP INC

TBHS…. BANK HOLDINGS THE

TCB…. T C F FINANCIAL CORP

TCBI…. TEXAS CAPITAL BANCSHARES INC

TCBK…. TRICO BANCSHARES

TCHC…. 21ST CENTURY HOLDING CO

TDBK…. TIDELANDS BANCSHARES INC

TFIN…. TEAM FINANCIAL INC

TFSL…. TFS FINANCIAL CORP

TGIC…. TRIAD GUARANTY INC

THFF…. FIRST FINANCIAL CORP IN

THG…. HANOVER INSURANCE GROUP INC

THRD…. T F FINANCIAL CORP

TIBB…. T I B FINANCIAL CORP

TIL…. TRANS INDIA ACQUISITION CORP

TMCV…. TEMECULA VALLEY BANCORP INC

TMK…. TORCHMARK CORP

TMP…. TOMPKINS FINANCIAL CORP

TNCC…. TENNESSEE COMMERCE BANCORP INC

TOFC…. TOWER FINANCIAL CORP

TONE…. TIERONE CORP

TOWN…. TOWNEBANK

TRH…. TRANSATLANTIC HOLDINGS INC

TROW…. T ROWE PRICE GROUP INC

TRST…. TRUSTCO BANK CORP NY

TRUE…. CENTRUE FINANCIAL CORP NEW

TRV…. TRAVELERS COMPANIES INC

TSBK…. TIMBERLAND BANCORP INC

TSFG…. SOUTH FINL GROUP INC

TSH…. TECHE HOLDING CO

TWGP…. TOWER GROUP INC

TWPG…. THOMAS WEISEL PARTNERS GROUP INC

UAM…. UNIVERSAL AMERICAN CORP

UB…. UNIONBANCAL CORP

UBCP…. UNITED BANCORP INC

UBFO…. UNITED SECURITY BANKSHARES

UBNK…. UNITED FINANCIAL BANCORP INC MD

UBOH…. UNITED BANCSHARES INC

UBS…. U B S AG

UBSH…. UNION BANKSHARES CORP

UBSI…. UNITED BANKSHARES INC

UCBA…. UNITED COMMUNITY BANCORP

UCBH…. U C B H HOLDINGS INC

UCBI…. UNITED COMMUNITY BANKS INC GA

UCFC…. UNITED COMMUNITY FINL CORP OHIO

UFCS…. UNITED FIRE & CAS CO

UMBF…. U M B FINANCIAL CORP

UMPQ…. UMPQUA HOLDINGS CORP

UNAM…. UNICO AMERICAN CORP

UNB…. UNION BANKSHARES INC

UNH…. UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC

UNIB… UNIVERSITY BANCORP INC

UNM…. UNUM GROUP

UNTY…. UNITY BANCORP INC

USB…. U S BANCORP DEL

USBI…. UNITED SECURITY BANCSHARES INC

UTR…. UNITRIN INC

UVSP…. UNIVEST CORP OF PENNSYLVANIA

UWBK…. UNITED WESTERN BANCORP INC

VBFC…. VILLAGE BANK AND TRUST FINL CORP

VCBI…. VIRGINIA COMMERCE BANCORP

VIST…. V I S T FINACIAL CORP

VLY…. VALLEY NATIONAL BANCORP

VNBC…. VINEYARD NATIONAL BANCORP

VPFG…. VIEWPOINT FINANCIAL GROUP

VR…. VALIDUS HOLDINGS LTD

VSBN…. V S B BANCORP INC NY

VYFC…. VALLEY FINANCIAL CORP VA

WABC…. WESTAMERICA BANCORPORATION

WAIN…. WAINWRIGHT BANK & TRUST CO BOSTN

WAL…. WESTERN ALLIANCE BANCORPORATION

WASH…. WASHINGTON TRUST BANCORP INC

WAUW…. WAUWATOSA HOLDINGS INC

WAYN…. WAYNE SAVINGS BANCSHARES INC NEW

WB…. WACHOVIA CORP 2ND NEW

WBCO…. WASHINGTON BANKING COMPANY

WBNK…. WACCAMAW BANKSHARES INC

WBS…. WEBSTER FINL CORP WATERBURY CONN

WCBO…. WEST COAST BANCORP ORE NEW

WCG…. WELLCARE HEALTH PLANS INC

WDR…. WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL INC

WFBC…. WILLOW FINANCIAL BANCORP INC

WFC…. WELLS FARGO & CO NEW

WFD…. WESTFIELD FINANCIAL INC

WFSL…. WASHINGTON FEDERAL INC

WGNB…. W G N B CORP

WHG…. WESTWOOD HOLDINGS GROUP INC

WHI…. W HOLDING CO INC

WIBC…. WILSHIRE BANCORP INC

WL…. WILMINGTON TRUST CORP

WLP…. WELLPOINT INC

WM…. WASHINGTON MUTUAL INC

WPL…. STEWART W P & CO LTD

WRB…. BERKLEY W R CORP

WSB…. W S B HOLDINGS INC

WSBC…. WESBANCO INC

WSFG…. W S B FINANCIAL GROUP

WSFS…. WSFS FINANCIAL CORP

WTBA…. WEST BANCORPORATION INC

WTFC…. WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION

WTM…. WHITE MOUNTAINS INS GROUP INC

WTNY…. WHITNEY HOLDING CORP

WVFC…. WVS FINANCIAL CORP

XL…. X L CAPITAL LTD

Y…. ALLEGHANY CORP DE

YAVY….. YADKIN VALLEY FINANCIAL CORP

ZION…. ZIONS BANCORP

ZNT…. ZENITH NATIONAL INSURANCE CORP

Bank of America is buying out Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs is trying to get together a $75 billion buyout of AIG.

It looks like the problems from the housing foreclosures are moving up the ladder from consumers to the greedy lenders. This is a sad situation for those who have their pensions and investments tied up in these companies, also those who are going to lose their jobs as a direct result of the closures. At least some of the people will be able to get some of their money out of WaMu before it also tanks.

Wachovia received the Pick-a-Payment loan program from Golden West when Wachovia acquired them in 2006 for $25 billion. These loan programs are a real problem for Wachovia because they default at a higher rate than other ARM mortgages.

They are also exiting the wholesale mortgage business and will no longer offer mortgages through brokers. Like Bank of America, they are going to rely on their own loan officers.

Looks like Wachovia got really caught up in the subprime lending disaster. Then they acquired another company that got caught up in it as well. So, acquiring a company isn’t always the best option. Wachovia is the fourth largest bank in the country and their mortgage sector could cost them a lot.

It isn’t only the pretty card that draws in the freshies, it’s also the free pizza or t-shirt they give away when you apply. When I was a freshman they were basically giving these cards to anyone who would take one. I will say freshmen, because AFTER you’ve been in college for a while you realize what’s going on. They write about it in the university newspaper.

So as we embark on a new school year, I’d like to give a piece of advice to the income freshmen and anyone else who wants to listen:
Go to the Union, buy your posters. Go to half.com (or amazon or wherever online), buy your books, and don’t give these credit card pushers the time of day.