Together, forever?

摘要

Opposites no longer seem as attractive. Universal banks combine the complexities of investment banking with simpler commercial-banking services for individuals and companies. Their proponents argue that the model offers the benefits of diversification, and enables banks to offer a full range of services to their clients. But even their backers are now having second thoughts. Sandy Weill, the man behind the mergers that created Citigroup, the archetypal universal-banking giant, surprised pundits last month by saying that megabanks should be broken up.