41.   U.S. banks are earning record profits, in part by hitting consumers with ever-higher checking and savings account fees.

42.   Wall Street banks earn big profits greasing the wheels for companies to buy one another.

43.   When interest rates go down, banks can earn more by paying out less.

44.   While banks are still earning record profits, there are increasing signs that the corners they have cut on credit quality are going to hurt them.

45.   While banks can earn some returns by lending their gold reserves, those are generally lower than the interest earned on government bonds.

46.   While investment banks generally earn between one percent and three percent on a bond offering, they can make between three percent and seven percent on a stock sale.

47.   Banks earn no interest on the reserves they are required to hold.

48.   From such advances or loans, known as assets, banks earn income in the form of interest.

49.   In performing their role as the paying or receiving agents, banks earn fee income and related interest income.

50.   It will shrink the down payment required of real estate buyers and allow banks to earn more interest by expanding lending without taking on additional risk.