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Who are bank examiners, and what do they do?

Mar 24, 2023
Examiners are the government employees who monitor a bank’s safety and soundness. What happened in the case of Silicon Valley Bank?
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

What does a bank's credit rating really tell us?

Mar 21, 2023
Credit rating agency Moody's had given Silicon Valley Bank a high rating — right up until it failed.
A sign for Moody's rating agencyat the company headquarters. Credit rating firms gave high marks to SBV and Signature Bank before collapsing.
Emmanuel Dunand/AFP via Getty Images

Some Republicans are blaming SVB’s collapse on ESG initiatives

We explore what’s really going on here with Washington Post reporter Julian Mark.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) is one of several prominent Republican lawmakers blaming the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank on so-called ESG investing.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Banks may become more selective about who gets loans

Mar 21, 2023
The collapse of SBV could lead to increased scrutiny around potential risks for banks.
After the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, financial institutions may become more selective about who gets loaned money.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

All eyes are on the Federal Reserve's next move in this "wobbly" economic moment

Mar 20, 2023
The inflation threat calls for one type of action, and the banking turmoil calls for another. How will the Fed respond?
Chairman Jerome Powell and other policymakers at the central bank will reveal their interest rate decision Wednesday. The Fed is also taking steps to stabilize the condition of regional banks and protect depositors.
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Are bank supervisors, or bank rules, too lax?

Mar 20, 2023
Do banking rules need tightening? Do supervisors need better training and greater powers? The answer will influence what comes next.
Politicians and lobbyists are debating whether Silicon Valley Bank collapsed due to a regulatory or supervisory failure. Above, Sen. Charles Grassley confers with Sen. John Cornyn during a Finance Committee hearing.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Smaller banks keep a close watch over their liquidity

Mar 20, 2023
One concern: People will put their money in a bigger bank. But there's a good reason to leave it in smaller institution, one banker says.
If more people get anxious about the banking system, they may start withdrawing their money, said University of Alabama law professor Julie Hill.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

You can protect more than $250,000 at a bank. But beware the “moral hazard.”

Mar 17, 2023
The FDIC allows coverage of different types of accounts at the same bank. There are also services that help you spread your money around.
Depositors are covered by the FDIC for up to $250,000, but there are ways to skirt the limit.
Karen Bleier/AFP via Getty Images