Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) (2024)

Treasury established several programs under TARP to help stabilize the U.S. financial system, restart economic growth, and prevent avoidable foreclosures.

Although Congress initially authorized $700 billion for TARP in October 2008, that authority was reduced to $475 billion by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). Of that, the following amounts were committed through TARP's five program areas:

  • Approximately $250 billion was committed in programs to stabilize banking institutions ($5 billion of which was ultimately cancelled).
  • Approximately $27 billion was committed through programs to restart credit markets.
  • Approximately $82 billion was committed to stabilize the U.S. auto industry ($2 billion of which was ultimately cancelled).
  • Approximately $70 billion was committed to stabilize American International Group (AIG) ($2 billion of which was ultimately cancelled).
  • Approximately $46 billion was committed for programs to help struggling families avoid foreclosure, with these expenditures being made over time.

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 established OFS within the Office of Domestic Finance at the Department of the Treasury to implement TARP. OFS was not envisioned as a permanent organization. The authority to make new commitments through TARP ended October 3, 2010, at which time Treasury shifted focus to the orderly wind-down of TARP. As of September 30, 2023, all TARP programs have closed, and there are no remaining troubled assets held by OFS. During fiscal year 2023, OFS completed the wind down of its remaining housing programs under TARP and sold its last troubled assets from the Capital Purchase Program and Community Development Capital Initiative. This will be the last set of financial statements produced for TARP as there is no longer a legal requirement to produce future financial statements (12 U.S.C. § 5226(e)). OFS is also dissolving as an entity with only administrative functions remaining. Under the direction of Treasury, OFS will use fiscal year 2024 appropriations to carry out these administrative functions and completely wind down the entity. Further, Treasury will continue to monitor TARP’s Fund Balance with Treasury until the funding is transferred to the General Fund.

As of September 30, 2023, the total amount disbursed for TARP programs was $443.5 billion and OFS collected $425.5 billion (or $443.1 billion if including the $17.5 billion in proceeds from the additional Treasury American International Group, Inc. [AIG] shares) through repayments, sales, dividends, interest, and other income. After considering the interest expense of $13.1 billion, the net cost of TARP programs was $31.1 billion.

Table 1 provides a financial summary for TARP programs since its inception on October 3, 2008, through September 30, 2023.

Table 1: TARP Summary1
From TARP Inception through September 30, 2023
(Dollars in millions)
Purchase Price or Guarantee AmountsTotal $ DisbursedInvestment RepaymentsWrite-offs and Losses4Received from InvestmentsInterest ExpenseNet Cost (Income)
Programs Closed During Fiscal Year 2023
Bank Support Programs
Capital Purchase Program2$ 204,895$ 204,895$ (199,675)$ 5,220$ (27,106)$ 5,579$ (16,307)
Community Development Capital Initiative 570 570 (527) 43 (67) 91 68
Sub-total for Investment Programs 205,465 205,465 (200,201) 5,263 (27,173) 5,670 (16,240)
Treasury Housing Programs under TARP 31,447 31,447 - - - (1) 31,446
Sub-total$ 236,912$ 236,912$ (200,201)$ 5,263$ (27,173)$ 5,669$ 15,207
Programs Closed in Fiscal Years 2022 or Prior
Bank Support Programs
Targeted Investment Program$ 40,000$ 40,000$ (40,000)$ -$ (4,432)$ 433$ (3,998)
Asset Guarantee Program 5,000 - - - (4,126) 125 (4,001)
Credit Market Programs
Public Private Investment Program 18,625 18,625 (18,625) - (3,852) 1,118 (2,735)
Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility 100 100 (100) - (685) 79 (606)
SBA 7(a) Securities Purchase Program 367 367 (363) 4 (13) 4 (4)
Other Programs
Automotive Industry Financing Program 79,692 79,692 (63,037) 16,656 (7,589) 3,004 12,071
American International Group Investment Program3 67,835 67,835 (54,350) 13,485 (959) 2,652 15,179
Sub-total$ 211,620$ 206,620$ (176,475)$ 30,145$ (21,654)$ 7,414$ 15,905
Total for TARP Programs$ 448,532$ 443,532$ (376,676)$ 35,407$ (48,827)$ 13,083$ 31,111
Note: Figures may not foot due to rounding.
1 This table shows TARP activity for the period from inception through September 30, 2023, on a cash basis. Received from investments includes dividends and interest income reported in the Statement of Net Cost, and Proceeds from sale and repurchases of assets in excess of costs.
2 OFS received $31.9 billion in proceeds from sales of Citigroup common stock, of which $25.0 billion is included at cost in Investment Repayments, and $6.9 billion of net proceeds in excess of cost is included in Received from Investments.
3 The amounts for AIG reflect only the operations of TARP and do not reflect proceeds received from the sale of shares of AIG common stock held by Treasury outside of TARP (additional Treasury shares).
4 Losses represent proceeds less than cost on sales of assets, which are reflected under “net proceeds from sales and repurchases of assets in excess of (less than) cost” in Note 6 of the financial statements.

Table 2 provides information on how OFS’s ultimate lifetime cost of TARP has changed over time.

Table 2: Lifetime TARP Costs (Income)1
(Dollars in billions)

Program

Lifetime Cost (Income) as of September 30
200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Bank Support Programs
Capital Purchase Program($14.6)($11.2)($13.0)($14.9)($16.1)($16.1)($16.3)($16.3)($16.3)($16.3)($16.3)($16.3)($16.3)($16.3)($16.3)
Targeted Investment Program(1.9)(3.8)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)
Asset Guarantee Program2(2.2)(3.7)(3.7)(3.9)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)(4.0)
Community Development Capital Initiative0.40.30.20.20.10.10.10.10.10.10.10.10.10.10.1
Credit Market Programs
Public Private Investment Program1.4(0.7)(2.4)(2.4)(2.7)(2.7)(2.7)(2.7)(2.7)(2.7)(2.7)(2.7)(2.7)(2.7)(2.7)
Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility(0.3)(0.4)(0.4)(0.5)(0.6)(0.6)(0.6)(0.6)(0.6)(0.6)(0.6)(0.6)(0.6)(0.6)(0.6)
SBA 7(a) Securities Purchase ProgramN/A0.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.0
Other Programs
Automotive Industry Financing Program34.514.723.624.314.712.212.112.212.212.212.112.112.112.112.1
American International Group Investment Program356.836.924.315.315.215.215.215.215.215.215.215.215.215.215.2
Subtotal74.132.124.614.12.60.1(0.2)(0.2)(0.3)(0.3)(0.3)(0.3)(0.3)(0.3)(0.3)
Treasury Housing Programs under TARP50.045.645.645.637.737.437.434.732.632.532.832.432.332.231.4
Total$124.1$77.7$70.2$59.7$40.3$37.5$37.2$34.5$32.3$32.3$32.4$32.1$32.0$31.8$31.1
Note: Figures may not foot due to rounding.
1 Program costs (+) or income (in parentheses) over the life of the program, including interest on reestimates and excluding administrative costs.
2 Prior to the termination of the guarantee agreement, OFS guaranteed up to $5.0 billion of potential losses on a $301.0 billion portfolio of loans.
3 The amounts for AIG reflect only the operations of TARP and do not reflect proceeds received from the sale of shares of AIG common stock held by Treasury outside of TARP (additional Treasury shares).

TARP Programs

Auto Industry

TARP helped prevent the collapse of the American auto industry, saving more than a million American jobs.

Bank Investment Programs

TARP helped stabilize America's banking system during the financial crisis.

Credit Market Programs

TARP helped restart the secondary credit markets which are essential to keeping credit flowing to households and businesses.

Executive Compensation

Treasury issued standards governing executive compensation at financial institutions that received assistance under TARP. These standards are implemented and are overseen by the Office of the Special Master.​​​

Housing

TARP helped prevent avoidable foreclosures and keeps families in their homes.

Investment in AIG

The Federal Reserve and Treasury took action to stabilize AIG because its failure during the financial crisis would have had a devastating impact on our financial system and the economy.

Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) (2024)

FAQs

What did the Troubled Asset Relief Program TARP do? ›

The Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) was instituted by the U.S. Treasury following the 2008 financial crisis. TARP stabilized the financial system by having the government buy mortgage-backed securities and bank stocks. From 2008 to 2010, TARP invested $426.4 billion in firms and recouped $441.7 billion in return.

What was the main function of the Troubled Asset Relief Program TARP? ›

Treasury established several programs under TARP to help stabilize the U.S. financial system, restart economic growth, and prevent avoidable foreclosures.

Why was TARP a failure? ›

The program failed in its attempt to make successful purchases and modify mortgages to prevent foreclosure for homeowners. The problem was with the banks. The TARP program gave banks enough lending power, but the banks didn't increase lending as expected.

Does TARP still exist? ›

As of September 30, 2023, all TARP programs have closed. While Congress authorized $700 billion for TARP, Treasury utilized far less than that. The TARP actual lifetime cost was approximately $31.1 billion, most of which was attributable to the program's efforts to help struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure.

Who paid back TARP money? ›

Most banks repaid TARP funds using capital raised from the issuance of equity securities and debt not guaranteed by the federal government.

Who benefited most from TARP? ›

TARP Recipients: The TARP program provided financial assistance to many institutions, including banks, insurance companies, and automakers. Some of the biggest beneficiaries of the program were Bank of America, Citigroup, AIG, and General Motors.

When did the TARP program end? ›

TARP was originally authorized to purchase or guarantee up to $700 billion in assets to assist financial institutions and markets, businesses, and individuals. As of September 30, 2023, when all TARP-funded programs were fully wrapped up, the total amount spent was $443.5 billion.

Did TARP make a profit? ›

The biggest part of the TARP was the bank rescue, which invested $236 billion in over 700 banks. Almost all of those investments have been resolved, most resulting in a profit for the government, though over 100 did result in losses.

What were the results of TARP? ›

About 70 percent of the disbursem*nts went to support financial institutions. All told, those transactions yielded a net gain to the government. Net disbursem*nts of TARP funds for all mortgage programs were $31.4 billion.

What were some positive results of tarp? ›

What were some positive results of TARP? Banks and automobile industries survived. Lending was able to increase. Why did many Americans criticize TARP?

Why did Americans criticize the Troubled Asset Relief Program? ›

Explanation: Many Americans criticized the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) for various reasons: It helped those who had caused the economic crisis, bailing out banks and institutions involved in toxic securities. It did not provide enough aid to smaller banks, leading to many of them collapsing.

Who got bailed out in 2008? ›

In 2008, nearly 1,000 companies received bailout funds through the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP). Some of the biggest bank bailout recipients included Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo. Other businesses like General Motors and Chrysler also received funds through TARP.

How did TARP help homeowners? ›

In addition, TARP provided support to the Federal Housing Administration Refinance Program, designed to assist borrowers whose homes were worth less than the remaining amounts due on their mortgage loans. Under the terms of these programs, recipients were not required to repay the government for funds they received.

What is TARP used for? ›

Tarps are used extensively to provide protective and waterproof shelter, and covering for equipment, stores, provisions, firewood, fire itself - and many more things.

Did the federal government lose money from TARP? ›

The biggest part of the TARP was the bank rescue, which invested $236 billion in over 700 banks. Almost all of those investments have been resolved, most resulting in a profit for the government, though over 100 did result in losses.

What are the effects of TARP? ›

While it helped to prevent a total economic collapse and spurred increased regulation of the financial sector, it also had some negative effects such as incentivizing risk-taking. Despite its controversies, TARP ultimately helped to stabilize the U.S. Economy during a time of crisis.

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