Even then, facilities are likely to shrink as non-bank investors such as hedge funds drop out of loan syndicates and banks that had only extended money in the hope of ancillary business also draw back.

ECONOMIST: Corporate lending

But it will consist overwhelmingly of the dodgy bits of the investment bank (such as its leveraged-loan and property activities), which will probably be wound up over several years.

ECONOMIST: Dismantling Royal Bank of Scotland

Ms. Stewart, who previously held senior banking positions at Wachovia Corp. and later was chief executive of Morgan Stanley Private Bank NA, created an acquisition book that flags clients who might be in the market for additional services such as a home mortgage or student loan, as well as those who recently had a bad experience with the bank and need some extra care.

WSJ: Citibank's Overhauled Retail Strategy Shows Uneven Results

With such rights, land title could be leveraged with a mortgage, used as collateral for a bank loan or sold more easily.

FORBES: Waking Dead Capital

Robinson argued that new money flows -- such as the "bridge loan" being contemplated by the G-7 through the multilateral Bank for International Settlements -- under current circumstances would represent "a bridge to nowhere" and end up costing Western taxpayers dearly.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy