I remember when account executives representing subprime loans came calling on our office at the mortgage brokerage. They invited us to submit loans that couldn’t get approved anywhere else. You know, those “no income, no problem” loans.
There was even a loan called NINA. It stood for No Income No Assets. And no questions were asked. The borrower signed what was basically a blank loan application.
Beats me why squeaky-clean Bank of America thought it was a good idea to buy high-risk loans. Oh wait, I think I know. BOA was hungry for bigger profits, and since these loans carried higher interest rates, the insatiable desire for more money was fed.
Now, without admitting guilt (of course!), Bank of America will dole out more than two billion dollars to its investors who were duped into thinking the match between the Big Bank and Merill Lynch would bring them increased profits.