lol they're not even really paying a fine. Where will the $5 billion go? To the gov't. Who owns the gov't? the banks! They're paying a fine to themselves they'll just get it all back in the next bail-out.
The banks do have to return that money. The advantage gained is the financing is far cheaper then they would ever get normally and especially at that time of high risk, the money would not be there at all. Lehmans found this when they turned down a lousy offer to buy them out, it was not a good price but thats tough luck as it was not a sellers market.
Gov when it 'gives' money to banks is giving them nice terms but they do pay it back and with interest however at the same time inflation makes interest very favouable and it is a gift many of us will never see and we all know how badly banks can treat their customers who take loans, its not negotiated for comfort as they got
made them pay Goldman at 100%. Who the f gets 100% in a bankruptcy?
Theres a strong reason for this, lehmans failed and this meant actual losses occurred. So not 100% return but less and because lehman was so central this was causing losses to funds declared to never lose funds, purely hard money funds that a global company might use for chequing every day, losing money wasnt an option on this just like your bank ac it isnt either.
Their reaction was to withdraw all funding to markets, this turtling effect was destructive to business as many require overnight finance.
If gov forced a 100% payback it was to show good confidence and that business could resume and to avoid this extreme caution. Ultimately global markets outweigh every government [you cannot have trillions in debt and say otherwise really] so it was gun to their head though Bush could have had more guts, he doesnt want that mess on his record.