Are America's Banks Still Too Big to Fail?

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Banks that got taxpayer bailouts paid back with interest, but financial authorities are warning it could happen again. Just five banks -- Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, Wells Fargo and Bank of America —now hold $8.5 trillion in assets. That's equal to 56 percent of the US economy, up from 43 percent six years ago. It's happened despite President Obama's call to "prevent the further consolidation of our financial system." Regulators are way behind in implementing new rules. Are the life-savings of depositors adequately insured? If a bank with $2 trillion takes too many risks will taxpayers have to be called on?  What's the state of public opinion on two unpopular institutions: banks and the federal government? What about Obama's promise that banks would never again be "too big to fail?"

Credits

Guests:

Host:

Warren Olney