The son of a soldier and nurse from small-town Mississippi, Ken Lewis likes to boast that he has worked since he was 12 years old, selling greeting cards door-to-door and pumping gas.

Banker bashing rules the day. So it was a surprise Tuesday when President Barack Obama praised Leonard L. Abess Jr., CEO of City National Bank of Florida.

Thomas K. Montag, the new head of global markets at Bank of America Corp., had a very good year in 2008 despite the worldwide downturn in the markets.

As Bank of America investors question the rocky merger with Merrill Lynch and the events that led to John Thain’s firing last week, the company’s directors are feeling unaccustomed pressure.

The global reach of Goldman Sachs Group, through a network of former officials, could help foster cooperation as U.S. officials reach out to foreign powers to calm financial markets. But it could also promote conflicts of interest.

The federal government isn’t the only potential buyer eying U.S. banks drowning in debt. Billionaire Gerald J. Ford is poised to reap another fortune.

Wells Fargo & Co. will acquire Wachovia Corp. in a $15.1 billion merger, blocking an earlier bid by Citigroup Inc.

A proposal to increase federal insurance on bank deposits is winning broad support from Democrats, Republicans and both presidential candidates.

Using expert consultants is common in business and government. SEC Inspector General David Kotz used one in his report that slams the agency for missing numerous red flags that foreshadowed the collapse of Bear Stearns.

Author and FDIC chair Sheila Bair has little free time these days to write children’s books.