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Back to To the Point

To the Point

Too Big to Fail - and Still Growing

Some banks are paying back their part of the $700 billion in TARP loans -- with interest.  But challenging questions remain. America's banks that were rescued as "too big to fail" are now bigger than ever, but smaller banks are failing fast. What's the connection?

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By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

Some banks are paying back their part of the $700 billion in TARP loans -- with interest. But challenging questions remain. America's banks that were rescued as "too big to fail" are now bigger than ever, but smaller banks are failing fast. What's the connection? With just four banks -- JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup -- now issue half America's mortgages and two-thirds of its credit cards, do consumers still have any choice? Are the institutions that put the entire economy at risk being rewarded? Will it be harder than ever for the government to wrestle them down to size?

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

    Sonya Geis

    Senior Managing Editor

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    Christian Bordal

    Managing Producer, Greater LA

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    David Cho

    Staff Writer, Washington Post

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    Daniel Gross

    Strategy + Business

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    Felix Salmon

    chief financial correspondent for Axios

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