Well almost all banks are indeed greedy when others are greedy and fearful when others are fearful. It is just all too human and at the same time a strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Only that both extremes will make the economy suffer be it a couple of years down the road or now.

@Surferbeetle: Banks are unique institutions as when many a banca becomes rotta the economy suffers greatly. As we have seen in dire times it is the citizien who covers the downs of those big banks while he has little from the ups. I believe we really should give a nod to the law of medieval Genua and literally break the big banks, but in away that the pieces can stand on their own feet.