US bank collapses touch 45 in '09; five fail in a single day

NEW YORK: Forty five banks have failed in the United States this year, with an average of seven entities going belly up every month.

Five banks collapsed on June 26, taking the toll to 45, which is much higher than 25 such failures for the whole of 2008.

More banks, especially the smaller ones, are expected to collapse in the coming months, even though the economic turmoil seems to be easing.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which is often appointed as the caretaker of failed entities, has said five banks were shuttered on June 26.

The latest names to join the failed list are Mirae Bank, Metro Pacific Bank, Horizon Bank, Neighborhood Community Bank and Community Bank of West Georgia.

Last week, the authorities shut down three banks -- First National Bank of Anthony, Cooperative Bank and Southern Community Bank.

Recently, the FDIC said the number of "problem banks" in the country have increased to 15-year-high of 305 in the first quarter of 2009. The count stood at just 252 in the December quarter.