Originally Posted by CarlosTheGaucho

Wrong,

We're talking about the fact that someone went to a risky venture to earn a little bit more, and the timing was far from ideal, but it has nothing to do with the relation between banks and its customers and any "lending standards".

The access to credit in US and Europe can't be compared at any level, so can't be compared the consumer spending habits.

Just for illustration, for example in this worst, extremely boring pseudo socialistic shithole where I live now, the banks are making 53 pct. of their profit on small fees (meaning that you get charged for withdrawing money, getting a statement to your adress etc.) so they're making more from holding your money than from lending money.