Banken horten Cash, um zukuenftige Ausfaelle begleichen zu koennen. Das frische erzeugte Geld der Banken wird fuer sie spaetere Rekapitalisierung vorgehalten, anstatt Geld in Form von Krediten in den Wirstchaftskreislauf zu pumpen.
Kreditekartenausfalle stiegen um 45%, weiterer starker Anstieg fuer 2009 erwartet.
"There's a complete freeze of lending to low-income, high-risk borrowers as banks try to stabilize their balance sheet. They're not going after anyone with moderately shaky credit. They're even being cautious with people who have great credit,"
Credit card debt is especially worrisome for banks because it is not backed by real assets, such as home mortgages and auto loans.
Bank of America chief executive Kenneth Lewis called lending conditions "a damn disaster."