Numbers can be hard to change sometimes. For example, it's a miracle and a half whenever the St. Louis Rams alter their side of the scoreboard. And try asking the Republicans if they'd like to flip the balance of Senate seats. No matter how badly they want 40 to magically transform into 60, it will never happen. (Unless they go to the BLS, in which case all bets are off.)
Recently, TARP recipient United Commercial Bank wanted to change some numbers very badly. But no matter what it did, the results weren't nearly good enough. So it went another route instead - and found out that just lying about the numbers in question is a much easier solution:
Analysts say it is in danger of being closed and sold by the FDIC given the findings of an internal investigation that the bank revealed last month. The bank’s earlier disclosures of its financial health were unreliable, the bank said, partly because some of its executives, “driven by an apparent desire to downplay deteriorating financial conditions,” had fudged losses and misled its auditors through “deliberate and improper actions.”
Luckily, we can all rest assured that this isn't happening at any of the really big banks. Just ask Ken Lewis.
