Despite aid, many banks fail to revive lending (02-03-2009)
Decline in loans twice as sharp among firms that accepted federal help
By Binyamin Appelbaum
updated 5:48 a.m. ET, Tues., Feb. 3, 2009
The federal government has invested almost $200 billion in U.S. banks over the last three months to spark new lending to consumers and businesses.
So far, it hasn't worked. Lending has declined, and banks that got government money on average have reduced lending more sharply than banks that didn't.
Conventional Loan 