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Can today's philanthropy fend off future bank-bashing?

By Gillian Tett

Published: November 20 2009 02:00 | Last updated: November 20 2009 02:00

What exactly was going through the brain of Lloyd Blankfein, head of Goldman Sachs, this week when the bank announced a $500m initiative to help small American businesses?

At first glance, the answer might seem obvious. This year Goldman has faced a barrage of political attack, not merely for its part in stoking the credit bubble - but also for having made fat profits as that bubble imploded.

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