Keep it to ourselves was the watchword of Tim and Ben

Messrs Geithner and Bernanke were really worried about the banks' failing - especially the huge banks run by their friends. So, not only did they see that the banks got TARP money, but they also loaned the banks an obscene amount of money ($1.2 trillion) at truly bargain basement rates (.01%).  Then, they made it very difficult for most people to find out what they'd done. Bloomberg was at it for over two years and has finally been able to get some details.

Ben's argument for the secrecy was that those banks who got the money would be working under such a stigma that needy banks would be unwilling to seek federal aid in the next crisis. You buy that one?  Of course, the banks were not forthcoming either.  They were all claiming that they were very healthy. Yet, they were willing to take $1.2 trillion in loans from us and I don't think it was only because of the low interest rate, although that did help them make around $13 billion on our money.

Of course, the bankers, being true capitalists, have been quite successful in lobbying against any regulations which would make life a little difficult for them, while minimizing the likelihood of a repeat of the current situation.