U.S. insurers may be at risk of costly payouts spawned from the European financial crisis

Many U.S. banks have upped their insurance sales in Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Italy during the first half of 2011. The growth in sales is the result of the European financial crisis that threatens to plummet several nations into economic catastrophe. Banks have been selling insurance against credit losses in the nations more affected by the financial crisis, but the practice may be putting insurers at higher risk of costly payouts. As the crisis worsens, insurers are now looking for ways to mitigate the impact of defaults. According to…

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FDIC closes more banks – trend could lead to stricter legislations

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced the closing of three small banks this week, bringing this year’s total to 80 nationwide. Banks, both large and small, have been closing at a rapid pace, most unable to recover from the financial disaster wrought by the 2008 recession. In 2010, the agency shut down a total of 157 banks, costing billions of dollars in insured losses to the federal government. Officials say that the pace of bank closures has slowed for the time being, but that the economic pressure caused by…

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