From Wall Street to Main Street, What's going on with the banking industry?

This week we begin a series of articles featuring interviews with officials at local financial institutions to find out how their role in the community has changed in light of the financial crisis of the last 18 months.

As we have learned, what happened with financial institutions – local, national and global – is now affecting all of us.

Money and banking 101

Most of us have seen the film “It’s a Wonderful Life,” in which Jimmy Stewart plays the hero who is the owner of a small town savings and loan. There are some good economics lessons here.

Insured financial institutions take in money in t...