About Financial Stability

The Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) played a critical role in breaking the back of the financial crisis and laying a foundation for future growth. It included a comprehensive set of measures to stabilize the financial system, restart the credit markets, restore confidence, and lower borrowing costs for businesses and families.

What is TARP and Why Did We Need It?

The U.S. financial system is much stronger today and is in a much stronger position to support economic recovery because of TARP. Learn more about financial crisis that led to the passage of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA), and the establishment of the TARP.

Where Did The Money Go?

Many people think that the $700 billion that Congress authorized for TARP was given to the nation’s banks and won’t be returned, but that’s not correct. Learn more about the investments that Treasury made under TARP and how Treasury is recovering almost all the funds for the American taxpayer.

Facts About TARP

TARP has been an incredibly successful program, but there are still many myths about its cost and impact. Learn the facts here.

What Did TARP Do?

Learn more about the programs created by the Office of Financial Stability under TARP to help stabilize the financial system.

TARP Oversight & Accountability

Congress ensured that the use of taxpayer resources would be closely monitored by giving four organizations the authority to oversee Treasury’s activities under TARP. In addition, the Department of the Treasury operates TARP in as transparent a nature as possible by making available thousands of documents including every contract, financial agent agreement, report to Congress and more. Learn more here.