How some near-death lenders end up looking alive

There are well-capitalized banks and there are problem banks. Some institutions are both.

At least, that is, based on figures the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp provided last week in its latest Quarterly Banking Profile. While the agency said 96 percent of banks were well-capitalized as of Sept 30, it also said about 7 percent of banks were on its problem list.

Huh? Those numbers don't square. On the one hand, the FDIC is saying only 336 banks fell below the well-capitalized threshold. Then it says there were 552 banks in trouble. So 216 banks had more than enough capital - a buffer to absorb losses - yet also may be near death. That's not reassuring.