[thfuran]

As you say, their profit isn't the point. Giving someone a loan with low enough interest is basically just handing them money free and clear with extra steps. So the real question is whether the handouts to the banks helped the populace or came at their expense. Would other uses of the money have helped more?

[throw_nbvc1234]

> Giving someone a loan with low enough interest is basically just handing them money free and clear with extra steps

If you ignore the "getting your money back" part yes.

[thfuran]

No, you just have to not ignore inflation. Or the things they can do with the money in the mean time.