Executives from four financial institutions that have received a total of $75 billion in federal bailout funds are promising they won’t use the money to pay their executives and employees.

A key House Democrat is writing legislation that would send $25 billion in emergency loans to the beleaguered auto industry in exchange for a government ownership stake in the Big Three car companies.

Gov. Mark Sanford has asked the U.S. Treasury Secretary to investigate Greenville-based Carolina First bank to see whether it’s “gaming the system” to get federal bailout money. He says that’s just one example of why citizens from across the state need to contact their elected officials in Washington and urge them to oppose additional bailouts, and to have better oversight and transparency of the funds already committed. WJBF News Channel 6’s Capitol reporter, Robert Kittle, has more.

The Federal Reserve has granted the request of credit card giant American Express Co. to become a bank holding company.

The Federal Reserve says it will supply New Zealand’s central bank with up to $15 billion, part of an ongoing effort by the Fed to break through a global credit clog.

With all the coverage of the current economic crisis that’s now worldwide, there have been a lot of comparisons made to the Great Depression that lasted through the 1930s. Leading up to the stock market crash in October 1929, the United States was in an era of economic growth. Easy credit allowed people to speculate in the stock market, borrowing money to invest thinking the growth of their stocks would pay them back. That’s very much like the growth in the housing market before the recent crash, with people using easy credit to buy more house than they could afford, thinking the homes’ rising value would keep them afloat.

Studies show that suicides and depression tend to rise when the economy suffers. A local psychiatrist says he’s treating more and more people with money on their minds. WJBF News Channel 6’s Paige Tucker reports.

From the opening to closing bells, it was a roller coaster day on Wall Street. Americans are watching their 401-K plans tank, and learning that securing a loan is near impossible. Analysts say the fact that the Dow didn’t close even lower, might be Monday’s only good financial news. Bill Blakemore has more.

News of the U.S. bailout plan has done little to restore confidence, overseas. Markets were far worse for the wear, Monday morning, across Europe and Asia. The concern now is that the bailout plan came too late to stop a global market meltdown. ABC News’ Gloria Riviera reports.

President Bush says the $700 billion plan to save the teetering U.S. economy will take some time to work. After meeting with small-business owners at an old-fashioned soda shop in San Antonio, Texas, the president sought patience from a jittery country.

The German Finance Ministry says government officials and private banks have agreed to a new 50 billion euro ($69 billion) deal to bail out Hypo Real Estate AG. A ministry statement says the deal will add up to 15 billion euros ($21 billion) in credit to an earlier plan worth 35 billion euros ($48 billion).

Friday, our Georgia Senators made a stop in Augusta to weigh in on their decision to vote for the financial bailout. Let’s face it, people are scared about where the economy’s headed, and we all want some reassurance that everything’s gonna be alright. Friday, both Senator Saxby Chambliss and Senator Johnny Isakson talked to some locals, hoping to ease their worries about the future. WJBF-TV News Channel 6’s Barclay Bishop caught up with them to get their take on the vote.

On Capitol Hill, they’re halfway there. Wednesday night, the Senate passed a financial bailout bill by a lopsided margin. The House, which rejected an earlier version of the bill, will go back to work on the new one. But, there are serious doubts about its future. ABC News’ Rachel Martin tells us why.

The current economic battle in Washington could have serious implications for people along the Gulf Coast, as they try and recover from Hurricane Ike.

The Senate has passed a $700 billion bailout for the financial industry aimed at preventing the economy from plunging into a recession.