We've noted before that Citigroup stands to be the lone bank, in which the government holds a large stake. The others--with the possible exception of Bank of America--all seem to be on track to pay off their funds. So the question is how much will this "ward of the state" status really hurt Citigroup? Well, it might reassure a few folks, but the downside is tremendous.

It will have a very hard time competing for qualified executives and managers compared to its peers, something chairman Richard Parsons openly acknowledges, notes the TheStreet.com. The government-owned status, of course, subjects the bank to lots of advice and even some second-guessing by government regulators. The fact that it will take a long time to repay the TARP funds makes things even worse. Some think a better path would be to wind down the company in an orderly fashion. What do you think? 

For more:
- here's the article from TheStreet.com
- Cramer: Government killing Citigroup. Video

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