Citigroup, Bank of America May Look ‘Nationalized’

[katty]

more: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ayHp841RcKAY&refer=worldwide

Citigroup, Bank of America May Look ‘Nationalized’ (Update1)
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By Ari Levy

Jan. 23 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. government’s decision to pledge billions of additional dollars with strings attached to Citigroup Inc. and Bank of America Corp. may be nationalization by another name, according to former bankers and regulators.

Faced with pressure from lawmakers, banks have shaken up management, eliminated executive bonuses and staff and canceled conventions. They’ll be forced to do monthly reports on how they’ve boosted lending while slashing quarterly dividends to one cent a share for three years.

“When the Treasury tells a bank to pay a penny a share vs. its old dividend, you know who’s calling the shots,” said Jon Bruss, a 40-year industry veteran and founder of Hartland, Wisconsin-based Fortress Partners Capital Management Ltd., which invests in banks. “It may not be de jure nationalization but I think it’s de facto nationalization.”

While avoiding steps taken by the U.K., which this week acquired a 70 percent stake in Royal Bank of Scotland Plc, U.S. regulators are no longer passively injecting capital into the nation’s biggest banks.

[Donnachaidh]

1. NATIONALIZE them -- and then do a FULL AUDIT

And find out just what sort of shenanigans they have been covering up.

[katty]

2. the sooner the better!

[Hugabear]

4. Not just them. ALL of the banks.

The sooner the better.

[katty]

5. no, not all-i'm more concerned about getting action on Audits

[Soylent Brice]

3. that would be effing sweet!!

K&R