The River Bank, Wyoming, Minnesota, was closed today by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The FDIC was appointed as receiver and sold the failed bank to Central Bank, Stillwater, MN. All deposits of The River Bank will be assumed by Central Bank. The River Bank was originally founded as The Bank of Osceola by businessman […]
Who Will Rescue Collapsing European Banks When Banks Are Bigger Than Countries?
The European banking crisis continues to spiral out of control while hapless politicians fail to put together a credible resolution plan. Part of the problem may be that it is difficult to construct a solution when failing banks are bigger than the countries that are trying to rescue them. The latest European bank on the […]
Global Financial System Faces Worldwide Bank Runs and Failures, Citigroup’s $300 Billion Problem
Three years after the height of the financial crisis, the issue of impaired assets on bank balance sheets remains a major risk to the health of the banking system. Regulators have allowed banks to avoid taking losses on impaired assets by not requiring mark to market accounting. The extent of overvaluation on bank loans can […]
FHFA Head Says Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Cannot Be Fixed
In a speech before the American Mortgage Conference, Acting Director Edward DeMarco of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), said that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have little chance of emerging from conservatorship. Both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the mortgage financing giants of the housing industry, faced collapse in late 2008 as mortgage defaults […]
First International Bank, Plano, Texas, Closed By Regulators
The first bank failure in the state of Texas occurred today when the Texas Department of Banking closed First International Bank, Plano, Texas. The FDIC, appointed as receiver for the failed bank, sold First International to American First National Bank of Houston, Texas. Ironically, First International Bank’s origins were based on a failed bank. First […]
Citizens Bank of Northern California Closed By Regulators
Citizens Bank of Northern California, Nevada City, CA, founded in 1995, was closed today by the California Department of Financial Institutions. The FDIC, acting as receiver, sold the failed bank to Tri Counties Bank, Chico, CA. Citizens Bank had seven branches which will reopen on Monday as branches of Tri Counties Bank. Depositors of failed […]
Bank of the Commonwealth, Norfolk, VA, Closed By Regulators
Bank of the Commonwealth, Norfolk, Virginia, founded in 1970, was closed today by the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The FDIC, acting as receiver, sold the failed bank to Southern Bank and Trust Company of Mount Olive, North Carolina. Bank of the Commonwealth had a total of 21 branches with 17 operating in Virginia and 4 […]
European Banking Crisis Spins Out Of Control – Officials Have No Solutions
The European banking crisis intensified as the threat of debt default contagion spread across Europe. What was once a “Greek” problem has quickly overwhelmed all of Europe, resulting in a broad sell of equities and frozen credit markets. Bloomberg reports that European banks are now being valued at levels last seen during the worst of […]
Will The Run On Greek Banks Spread Across Europe?
With the interest rate on short term Greek government debt approaching 100%, markets are saying that default by Greece is inevitable. Greece is expected to run out of cash within weeks and massive civil unrest may slide into anarchy as protests become increasingly violent. The bailout by the European Union that was supposed to save […]









