Sheila Bair Recommends Geithner’s Book, Warns of Future Bailouts. Instant Classic
Posted by Larry Doyle on May 20th, 2014 6:24 AM |
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
Those watching the Wall Street-Washington regulatory battles over the years are well aware that there is no love lost between former Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and former FDIC chair Sheila Bair. While Tim is now out making the rounds promoting his new book, Stress Test, Bair takes the opportunity to offer some faint praise but also some glancing and direct hits.
In what I would qualify as deftly slipping a punch, Bair actually recommends Geithner’s book. In doing so, though, she then proceeds to lay Tim and his cohorts out with a serious warning we all should heed. (more…)
Book Review: Bull by The Horns by Sheila Bair
Posted by Larry Doyle on May 24th, 2013 7:55 AM |
I am a Sheila Bair fan.
Throughout our continuing economic crisis, I have found the former chair of the FDIC to be an individual who tried to do what was right on behalf of the American people while promoting the rule of law and principles of free market capitalism. I juxtapose those strengths with practices pursued and implemented by an array of government officials, financial regulators, and their financial consorts.
I recently completed Bair’s book, Bull By The Horns: Fighting to Save Main Street from Wall Street and Wall Street from Itself, and would give it a 4+ star rating. (more…)
Sheila Bair Rates Wall Street’s CEOs
Posted by Larry Doyle on September 25th, 2012 5:51 AM |
Few people had as much interaction in the heat of battle with financial CEOs than former FDIC chair Sheila Bair. What does Ms. Bair think of both past and current chief executives on Wall Street?
American Banker provides a riveting review of the good, the bad, and the ugly according to Ms. Bair in writing, What Sheila Bair Really Thinks of Big Bank Execs,
Former Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Chairman Sheila Bair was always known for speaking her mind, even when she ran the agency from 2006 to 2011. (more…)
Sheila Bair’s Final ‘Sense on Cents’
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 9th, 2011 1:37 PM |
In one corner, we have Jamie Dimon who on behalf of his shareholders would seemingly like to maintain as much of the status quo for the powers that remain in the Wall Street oligopoly.
In another corner, we have Barack Obama grasping at straws that might breathe some lifeblood into the economy and support his prospects for reelection.
Who occupies the center of the ring and is neither compromised by the large money interests on Wall Street nor the pursuit of perpetuating a political career in Washington?
Sheila Bair.
The soon-to-retire head of the FDIC–she steps down in early July–provided perhaps her final dose of ‘sense on cents’ this morning. What did she have to say? (more…)
Sheila “Bair”s Her Mind
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 14th, 2009 12:43 PM |

Sheila Bair, Head of FDIC
I have always held Sheila Bair in high regard. Why? I believe she has no agenda other than what is best for our country. I find her to be tough, but fair. I think she prioritizes integrity, transparency, and reputation–all of which we badly need, but are in short supply.
Ms. Bair is currently engaged in an active debate about potential management changes at Citigroup. She is no shrinking violet in taking on any and all Wall Street heavyweights. I commend her for that. Additionally, she is giving “no quarter” in defending her positions on financial regulatory reform.
Ms. Bair recently spoke with Forbes, Bair Cautions Banking Crisis Is Not Over. Ms. Bair does not pull any punches or play the pandering games regularly seen in Washington and on Wall Street. As such, I think it is prudent for all of us to listen closely to what she has to say. Forbes reports:
Sheila Bair, chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, said Friday that while the crisis that swept through the financial world last year has subsided somewhat, it was far from over and there would be “many more bank failures” ahead.
“I think there’s still some challenges, I think we need to be realistic. There are still some troubled assets on the books and we still have an economy that’s under significant stress.”
How many other government officials are equally as blunt? How many regulators will openly address the fact that the toxic assets are still very much an issue and that the economy is under ‘significant stress’? Our country is screaming for some good old-fashioned truth combined with straight talk. Ms. Bair provides it. Let’s go back for some more. What does Sheila Bair think about the economy? Green shoots? Turning the corner? Bair provides sobering commentary: (more…)
Bullish on Ms. Bair!!
Posted by Larry Doyle on March 28th, 2009 3:30 PM |

The Bull and the "Bair"
Is there anything worse than engaging a dishonest broker? Regrettably, our financial landscape (banking, investing, real estate, insurance, et al) is littered with shady brokers. How and why these people remain in business is another topic for another day. This piece is to highlight the integrity of an honest broker, Sheila Bair, and her involvement in the PPIP (Public-Private Investment Program) designed to handle toxic assets, both securities and loans.
For those unaware of the specifics of the PPIP, the toxic securitized assets will be sold via a facility known as the TALF (Term Asset Backed Lending Facility) and via partnerships with 5 large private money managers.
Toxic loans (unsecuritized) are the much more difficult part of the program. The bulk of these loans are likely still held on banks’ books at origination cost (not yet marked down) and pose a much greater disparity in perceived value and challenge in reaching agreeable prices. (more…)
All The King’s Horses and All The King’s Men . . .
Posted by Larry Doyle on May 6th, 2009 11:37 AM |
Humpty’s most severe injury is the breakdown of the securitization process in which Wall Street promoted a pure “originate to distribute” model. Obama himself offered in the May 3rd Sunday New York Times Magazine:
Time for the cement to harden and for Humpty to get back on his feet. Why will it take so much time? Very simply, Humpty was not an honest broker in the process of originating, securitizing, and distributing poorly written – if not fraudulently written – loans over the last 5 to 7 years. The Financial Times highlights this fact this morning in “Securitization Is Crucial for Revitalizing Lending.” The FT reports:
If we review those statistics, the government’s TALF (Term Asset-Backed Lending Facility) has facilitated $18.5 billion in sales since its launch in March. While the Fed views the demand as picking up, be mindful that the $18.5 billion figure represents approximately .008 of the total credit that has evaporated from the economy via the shadow banking system. In layman’s terms, we just gave Humpty a swab with a warm cloth while his limb is holding on by a thread.
My concern with the TALF is that the buyers will cherry pick bank assets and simply purchase those which have the most rigorous underwriting. The dregs will be left for the banks and taxpayers to absorb.
If Uncle Sam does get Humpty somewhat propped back up against the wall (note that I’m not even hinting at Humpty getting “on the wall”), how do we make sure Humpty does not once again fall down and take us all with him?
We need to make sure Humpty plays by strict rules and regulations, both in terms of underwriting and business engagement. The FT addresses proposed underwriting rules in “Watchdog Proposes Strict Rules.” The FT reports,
Wow, you mean Humpty actually has to display a measure of integrity in his operations? What a novel idea! Who may be keeping an eye on Humpty to make sure he plays by the rules going forward? The SEC and FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority).
Hey, wait a second. When Humpty fell off the wall, we have very credible evidence that FINRA was actually one of his playmates. None other than Harry Markopolos said that FINRA was on the wall (“in bed”) with Humpty. I have highlighted issues within FINRA that still need to be addressed: FINRA Is Supposed To Police The Market.
President Obama, what do you prescribe for Humpty given his relationship with FINRA? Obama told the Times,
Putting Humpty back together is going to be very challenging. Sense on Cents will be monitoring the operation very closely.
LD
For newer readers who may want to more fully understand how Humpty “had a great fall,” I strongly recommend The Wall Street Model Is Broken….and Won’t Soon Be Fixed.
Tags: can Wall Street be rebuilt?, FINRA's relationship with Wall Street, International Organization of Securities Commissions recommendations, Meredith Whitney comments on capital markets, Obama interview in Sunday New York Times, originate to distribute, originate to distribute model, progress of TALF, protecting investors, rebuilding the nonbanking sector, rebuilding Wall Street model, rebuilding Wall Street's business, reconstructing Wall Street, repackaging loans, restarting the securitization processm, restoring the nonbanking sector, what's up with FINRA, will TALF work?, will Wall Street recover
Posted in FINRA, General, Mary Schapiro, SEC, Sheila Bair, TALF, Tim Geithner, U.S. Treasury, Wall Street | 8 Comments »