Approximately half of the $25 billion was raised last weekthrough a public stock offering. The bank sold 489.9 million sharesof common stock at $25 per share. The bank says the TreasuryDepartment continues to hold warrants to buy approximately 110million shares of its common stock at $34.01 per share. Thecompany's current share price is about 27% below that mark. Shareswere trading at around $27 in early afternoon trading on Thursday,up $0.21 on the day after falling $0.32 behind earlier in theday.

The number of financial companies failing to pay dividends onthe TARP money they have received grew to 55 in November, up from33 in August, according to a Reuters story Wednesday citing ananalysis of government data by the bank research firm SNL. Only oneof the 33 companies from August made its November payment. Thenumber of companies having missed at least three consecutivedividend payments is now at 12, according to the article. USregulators have closed 140 banks this year, the most since 1992.The dividend rate is 5% per year in four equal payments. Thegovernment has said it expects to lose money from its TARPprogram.

The Treasury Department is now considering proposals to aidsmaller community banks with a TARP-styled bailout, according tonews accounts. For that story, click here.