Date of bankruptcy filing: 09/26/08
Assets: $327.9 billion
Amid fears of insolvency, customers of Washington Mutual withdrew more than $16 billion of deposits over a 10-day period last fall, causing a government regulator to seize the holding company's banking assets and sell them to JPMorgan Chase for $1.9 billion. The following day WaMu filed for bankruptcy protection. What was once the nation's largest savings and loan and sixth-largest bank is now a shadow of its former self. The holding company currently is suing the FDIC for improper seizure and is seeking $13 billion in damages.