CNBC had a great interview with Billionaire Wilbur Ross, CEO of WL Ross and Co. In the interview Mr Ross the question I have been asking; With all of these bad loans going on, why haven't we seen more bank closings?
His answer: a very simple, "We Will." "I think that's going to be the next wave, and coupled with problems in the commercial real estate market; I think they'll be the next bubbles that burst."
He was also asked about risk to big banks. ""I think that the big banks won't fail in the sense that they will go to zero and depositors would lose money," Ross replied. "I think the Fed and other regulators will make things happen. I think it's the medium-sized banks, and particularly some of those that got overextended with the subprime and other kind of mortgage debt. I think those are the ones that had the serious mismatch, making 20- and 30-year loans based on 90-day deposits."
This matched what the Federal Reserve Chair Bernanke told a Senate committee in late February. He believe those small banks that took flyers on higher returns on medium and high risk loans are at risk.
There are more and more reports about people walking away from their mortgages and in a report last night it was said that 28% of those in default aren't even talking to their banks. Given that the banks need another house like a hole in their head, this is the best time to work with your mortgage company if you are having issues.
The bigger problem is that that consumers aren't there to bail out the economy this time, and even those in good or better shape are spending less to prep for harsher conditions instead.
4 Comments:
I heard the same thing at the conference I attended last week. There are lots of small-medium sized banks for sale right now, particularly in Florida.
Expect to see lots of M&A in the financial services sector later this year!
I have a friend in M&A at a major bank, and he says there is going to be a lot of buyouts from this.
Florida makes sense as most states that saw the fastest rise in Real Estate Values!
Thanks for commenting. You have great insight from your side of the desk.
I was so excited when I saw your title. I hope my soon to be ex bank's bubble would burst.
They are so bad that I keyed in their name and complaints department last night and I didn't even get a link to their website. There was page after page of complaints about them on various sites.
Are banks in the USA that bad?
Thanks Catherine...It was my tribute to '40's Noir!
A lot of banks thought they could make some money easy and quick...which is always a reciepe to lose it quick!
I think a lot of consolidation is coming, and soon.
Thanks for visiting!
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