34 Banks fail to pay quarterly TARP dividend
October 09, 2009
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RELATED TICKERS: AIG
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The entire article is on USATODAY.
In a sign that more banks are under great pressure from the recession, 34 financial institutions did not pay their quarterly dividends in August to the Treasury on funds obtained under the Troubled Asset Relief Fund (TARP). The number almost doubled from 19 in May when payments were last made, and also raised questions about Treasury's judgment in approving these banks as "healthy," a necessary step for them to get TARP funding.
I also found this part interesting...
The Treasury Department says it cannot force an institution to pay dividends. "For some banks, it may be prudent to exercise their right not to pay dividends in a particular month, and we respect their right to do so," says Meg Reilly, a Treasury spokeswoman. "To draw any broader conclusions about the state of the banking sector from one month is highly premature and speculative."
So.... the government can force taxpayers to "invest" in crap banks but they can't force an institution to pay it's TARP dividend? Why not? Why is it premature to speculate on the health of the banking sector if the amount of institutions failing to pay their TARP dividends is INCREASING?
What I do know is if I invest in a company and they decide not to pay a dividend that particular quarter, chances are something is wrong and it may be time to move on.
I dunno guys help me out. I'm mostly out of the market right now and it's hard to see this whole recovery thing everyone is talking about.