While the larger banking industry grabbed most of the attention, U.S. savings and loans (S&Ls) also felt the strain of the recent financial crisis. Major institutions such as Countrywide Financial and Washington Mutual failed.

In the financial crisis that began in August 2007, securitization activity virtually dried up. When the housing bubble burst, the value of the collateral backing much of the asset-backed securities (ABS) declined sharply, and so did the value of the securities themselves. The Federal Reserve...

Small business lending data are analyzed using the Federal Reserve Bank "Report on Condition and Income" that identifies three levels of lending: (1) loans with original amounts of $100,000 or less; (2) loans with original amounts of $100,001 to $250,000; and (3) loans with original amounts of...

After several unsuccessful attempts by Congress to repeal Glass-Steagall restrictions on banks, the Federal Reserve more than doubled the revenue that commercial banking organizations' securities subsidiaries may earn from certain securities activities. The wealth effects associated with this...