A new project from the Center for Public Integrity takes a closer look at the global economic meltdown, and the 25 lenders responsible for the majority of high-interest or subprime loans from 2005-2007, “a period that marks the peak and collapse of the subprime boom.” CPI’s analysis found that:
At least 21 of the top 25 subprime lenders were financed by banks that received bailout money — through direct ownership, credit agreements, or huge purchases of loans for securitization. Nine of the top 10 lenders were based in California, including all of the top five — Countrywide Financial Corp., Ameriquest Mortgage Co., New Century Financial Corp., First Franklin Corp., and Long Beach Mortgage Co. Twenty of the top 25 subprime lenders have closed, stopped lending, or been sold to avoid bankruptcy. Most were non-bank lenders. Eleven of the lenders on the list, including four recipients of bank bailout funds, have made payments to settle claims of widespread lending abuses.
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