How do any of these easy-money lenders differ from George Bailey of the Bedford Falls Building and Loan?
Aw, Jimmy Stewart is such a nice guy, you forgive him for dangerous lapses in banking practices.
They don't. Well, Bailey got the money back, I believe. I take some heat pretty much every Christmas time when I observe, Grinch-like, that Bailey forgot whose money he was playing with. That's actually a little fuzzy in the movie - his firm was founded with his father's money but apparently it was enough of a bank to warrant a bank examiner (and a potential arrest for Bailey). If it was depositors' money then his first ethical duty was to the people who had entrusted him with their life savings and not to the community at large, however much its life was enriched by his misfeasance. If, on the other hand, it was his own, then as far as I'm concerned he can lend it to anyone he likes for any reason he likes. In which case, however, you'd have to wonder why he'd be worried about a bank examiner. Aw, heck, it's a silly Christmas story, just roll with it. Bah. Humbug.
You’re kidding right? George Bailey lent money to people he KNEW were going to pay it back. Like the cab driver. George knew he was a hard worker and kept his promises. That’s a low risk. No one (at least as shown in the movie) in that fictional town was a welfare bum. Well, maybe the hottie, Violet, but George only gave her some of his PERSONAL money. It was old Potter who saw a chance to literally LOOT George when he stole the bank’s money from the old foolish uncle.