Many newspapers in the US these days are carrying ads from GMAC, the financing arm of ailing General Motors.

Now that GMAC has become a bank, it is soliciting deposits – and paying above market rates to attract them. At the same time, it is advertising its commitment to help get both the economy and GM itself moving again by offering potential (GM) car buyers interest-free loans. Cynics might point out that this practice is what got GMAC into difficulty in the first place.