Banking Woes

| July 23, 2008 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2008/07/bank.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:783;s:4:"file";s:16:"2008/07/bank.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"bank-336x257.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:257;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"bank-771x590.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:590;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"bank-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"bank-768x587.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:587;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:14:"bank-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"bank-800x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"bank-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"bank-407x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:407;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"bank-347x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:347;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"bank-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"bank-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"bank-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:383974;s:14:"optimized_size";i:144743;s:7:"percent";d:62.299999999999997;}s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:44:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/07/bank.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:227900;s:14:"optimized_size";i:52126;s:7:"percent";d:77.129999999999995;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:52:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/07/bank-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:5616;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4187;s:7:"percent";d:25.449999999999999;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:52:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/07/bank-336x257.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:14514;s:14:"optimized_size";i:9178;s:7:"percent";d:36.759999999999998;}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:52:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/07/bank-771x590.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:53510;s:14:"optimized_size";i:28042;s:7:"percent";d:47.590000000000003;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:52:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/07/bank-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:25822;s:14:"optimized_size";i:14477;s:7:"percent";d:43.939999999999998;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:52:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/07/bank-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:17134;s:14:"optimized_size";i:11456;s:7:"percent";d:33.140000000000001;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:52:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/07/bank-407x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:19393;s:14:"optimized_size";i:12041;s:7:"percent";d:37.909999999999997;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:52:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/07/bank-347x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:15178;s:14:"optimized_size";i:9545;s:7:"percent";d:37.109999999999999;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:52:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2008/07/bank-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4907;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3691;s:7:"percent";d:24.780000000000001;}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1673947662 
1216771200
 It’s been a sour housing market of late with rising mortgage defaults and consumer debt. And big banks have been feeling the hurt too. Birmingham’s Regions Financial reported second quarter profits are down by more than 50% and cut their dividends by an even higher percentage. Charlotte, N.C.-based Wachovia had losses approaching $9 billion and is cutting more than 6,300 jobs nationwide, including some jobs in Alabama. Former Wachovia CEO Ken Thompson was also a casualty in that company’s financial woes. WBHM’s Steve Chiotakis spoke with John Kottmeyer, an economics professor at Samford University’s Brock School of Business about the sour news and what to expect in the future.
 

 

Judge rules immigration officers in Minneapolis can’t detain peaceful protesters

Officers in the Minneapolis-area participating in a U.S. immigration enforcement operation can't detain or tear gas peaceful protesters who aren't obstructing authorities, a judge ruled Friday.

Justice Department opens investigation into Minnesota governor and Minneapolis mayor

Federal prosecutors are investigating Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey.

No sign of new protests in Iran as a hard-line cleric calls for executions

A Iran returns to an uneasy calm after protests led to a violent crackdown, a senior cleric is calling for the death penalty for detained demonstrators. His sermon Friday also threatened U.S. President Trump.

Gulf South food banks look back on a challenging year as another shutdown looms

Federal funding cuts and a 43-day government shutdown made 2025 a chaotic year for Gulf South food banks. For many, the challenges provide a road map for 2026.

Measles is spreading fast in S.C. Here’s what it says about vaccine exemptions

More than 550 people have contracted measles in Spartanburg County, S.C., in a fast-growing outbreak. Like a majority of U.S. counties, nonmedical exemptions to school vaccination are also rising.

It took 75 governors to elect a woman. Spanberger will soon be at Virginia’s helm

Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer and three-term congresswoman, is breaking long-held traditions on inauguration day. She says she wants her swearing-in to showcase the state's modern vibrancy.

More Economy Coverage