As was noted here in the December 18 post, just because a bank takes TARP money does not mean that said institution will continue to loan money.  The Wall Street journal confirms that this is the case in a recent article which notes: “Leanding at the nation’s biggest banks has fallen more sharply than previously realized, despite government efforts to pump billions of dollars into the financial sector. 

According to a Wall Street Journal analysis of Treasury Department data, the biggest recipients of taxpayer aid made or refinanced 23% less in new loans in February, the latest available data, than in Ocotober, the month the Treasury kicked off the Troubled Asset Relief Program.”

Here is a link, but note that a subscription is required for the full WSJ article:  http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124019360346233883.html

 Michael