Biggest Bank Failure of 2009

Another bank bites the dust -- this time, it's Colonial BancGroup

Regulators Friday shut down Colonial BancGroup Inc., a giant lender whose collapse marked the nation's biggest bank failure in a year that saw 74 federally insured banks close their doors.

The Montgomery, Ala. based Colonial had about $25 billion in assets -- $22 billion of which will be sold to BB&T Corp., based in North Carolina, according to the Associated Press.

Colonial's 346 branches nationwide will reopen Saturday as BB&T offices, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. told the AP.

Regulators also shut down Dwelling House Savings and Loan Association, a Pittsburgh thrift that had $13.4 million in assets, some of which will be assumed by PNC Financial Services Group.

Twenty-five banks failed last year -- and only 3 collapsed in 2007.

Read more: MSNBC, The Associated Press

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