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Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday said regulators would take additional steps to eliminate the problem of "too big to fail" if current efforts fall short.
March 20 -
Attorney General Eric Holder's stunning admission that it was difficult to prosecute large banks because of the potential economic impact adds significant ammunition to those seeking to break up such institutions.
March 6
WASHINGTON — A Rasmussen Reports survey has found that 50% of U.S. adults would favor a plan to break up the largest banks.
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Concern over whether some banks are "too big to fail" has reached fever pitch in recent weeks, with numerous lawmakers and other public officials, including Attorney General Eric Holder, weighing in about the size of the largest institutions.
The report appears to confirm that most of the public is still angry at big banks following the 2008 financial crisis. It also may help build momentum for a pending bill from Sens. David Vitter, R-La., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, that is designed to rein in the largest institutions.
Banks did receive at least some good news in an earlier poll conducted by Rasmussen. The polling group surveyed 1,000 adults between March 11 and 12, and found that 53% of Americans are at least somewhat confident in the stability of the banking industry, including 10% that are very confident. The survey found 43% of Americans lack confidence in banks, with 11% saying they are "not at all" confident.
