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Lenders Gone Wild

Special report: Lenders Gone Wild

Minnesota's small banks on the brink

Minnesota's small banks made so many big bets on real estate that the state ranks fifth nationally in the number of banks with excessive levels of bad loans. Expect more banks to fail. Updated: Mar. 22, 2011 - 04:23 PM

Last in a series: Lenders Gone Wild

Part 3: As loans grew, regulators shrank

The Minnesota Commerce Department scaled back its monitoring of lenders even as indicators worsened. Updated: Mar. 22, 2011 - 04:25 PM

Second in a series: Lenders Gone Wild

Part 2: Credit unions: Where the credit flowed too freely

Long known as lenders to the little guy, credit unions jumped into high-risk loans. Now almost half of them are losing money. Updated: Mar. 22, 2011 - 04:24 PM

The collapse in real estate values is taking a toll on Minnesota’s small banks and credit unions. Regulators have seized and closed two banks since 2008, with dozens on a secret watch list - and banking officials say more will fail. That could have big implications for Minnesota’s economy.

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Main Street Bank in Forest Lake.

Lenders Gone Wild: Part 1
Article By: Karen Paurus , Publish / Update March 22, 2011 4:29 PM
James Lileks talks with business reporter Jennifer Bjorhus about the aggressive lending practices of some Minnesota banks and credit unions.

Thumper Pond in Ottertail Co.

Lenders Gone Wild: Part 2
Article By: Karen Paurus , Publish / Update March 22, 2011 4:30 PM
Business reporter Chris Serres talks with James Lileks about the current state of Minnesota credit unions.

Lenders Gone Wild: Part 3
Article By: Karen Paurus , Publish / Update March 22, 2011 4:30 PM
Business reporter Chris Serres talks with James Lileks about bank regulators and the role they played in the failing of some Minnesota banks and credit unions.

Reporter's Notebook: The grim repo
Article By: Karen Paurus and Glen Stubbe , Publish / Update March 22, 2011 4:31 PM
Photographer Glen Stubbe rides with a repo man as he repossesses two vehicles from owners who had fallen behind on their payments.

This maverick succeeds where other bankers fail
Article By: JENNIFER BJORHUS , Star Tribune Publish July 26, 2009 2:00 AM / Update July 29, 2009 7:37 AM
Stearns Bank CEO keeps buying insolvent banks while unloading his own toxic loans.

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Loan analyst felt push to get deals done
Article By: CHRIS SERRES , Star Tribune Publish July 27, 2009 2:00 AM / Update March 22, 2011 4:26 PM
"Let's get the deal done and worry about the details later."

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Credit unions dig deep to rebuild fund
Article By: CHRIS SERRES , Star Tribune Publish July 27, 2009 2:00 AM / Update March 22, 2011 4:27 PM

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Some useful links about banks and credit unions
Article By: Casey Common , Publish July 24, 2009 2:00 AM / Update March 22, 2011 4:28 PM
To find the latest quarterly financial data on specific banks: Click here

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A Lethal Dose: The war on synthetic drugs

They carry names like Bliss and TranQuility, but don't be fooled: Synthetic drugs can be deadly. From a small town in Oklahoma to suburban Minnesota, these products have generated unusual violence and physical suffering. Efforts to control these substances remains a losing battlle.

Violated

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Losing Our Lakes

Home builders are routinely allowed to break the rules on shoreline development. Polluters are allowed to keep polluting. And clean-up efforts are falling short. While public officials are trying to save Minnesota's iconic lakes, their efforts are undercut by a lack of federal mandates.