Many Americans have heard their fill of stories about big banks and corporations that took hundreds of billions in funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program or TARP, which became law in October 2008.
TARP was billed as a critical component desperately needed to stabilize the U.S. economy in the aftermath of the subprime mortgage crisis. The program allowed the U.S. government to strengthen the financial sector by purchasing assets and equity from banks and other financial companies.
Not All Institutions Took The Money
Unlike many banks and mortgage lenders, Impac Mortgage Holdings, Inc. and its founder and CEO Joe Tomkinson refused to take TARP monies or any funds from American taxpayers.