And banks are like sharks, if they aren't loaning they'll drown. You have to remember that the bank is paying interest out on all the money they hold, so they can't hold it long. They need to get it loaned fast and make that spread, otherwise they sink to the bottom quick. It's just the way a central bank/fractional reserve system works. It's a structural issue and has no political party.
You are 100% correct- but it was Cuomo who sued them and won the biggest settlement ever for $2.1 bilion (a lot of money at the time) and sent the signal to the rest of them
This, while at the same time FANNIE and FREDDIE moved to guarantee them agaist lost- you had a double whammy.
Banks knew it was bad loans but they were force to do it under threat of lawsuit. And they were guaranteed not to lose money, so.. whammo. Housing price roase and rose while they loaned and loaned, and everyone pocketed money all around- Especially the thieves Harold Raimes and AIG and Goldman Sachs.