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A lender, before deregulation, had to have, by law, 10% instant liquity on the money he lent. So a lender (banker) made money hand over fist because he could make ten $1000 loans and only have to show $1000 in the coffers. That means that if he charged 8% interest, his return was not 8% but 80% per year on every dollar he actually had. After deregulation, lenders were lending money at 25 to 1 or 40 to 1 or even 100 to 1. So at 100 to 1 the banker lent the same $1000 100 times and at 8% interest per loan, his return on $1000 was 800%. That is why bank buildings are the biggest and highest skyscrapers.