But with Congress and the Administration in favor of a fund merger, bank lobbyists have tried more recently to insure that savings institutions turn into banks.

Vince Cable has described bank lobbyists' warnings on reform as 'disingenuous in the extreme - trying to create panic about something they know has to happen'.

During the campaign, Kilroy linked Stivers to big business, bank lobbyists, predatory lending and the financial crisis.

And other Senators are sensitive to the argument from bank lobbyists that their states will lose banking jobs.

One bank lobbyist added: "Bankers want to know what people in the agencies think.

"Riegle has come on real strong," said one bank lobbyist, who noted that the Michigan Democrat had the backing of the securities industry.

Liz Handley, a 30-year-old bank lobbyist, was impressed by images of Chinese talking on cell phones as they walked the streets.

It's no surprise Republicans are pushing this legislation, "bank lobbyists and their allies on Capitol Hill have spent millions of dollars.

After his resignation, Waite worked as a bank lobbyist.

But bank lobbyists' anger about today's deal reduces the odds that Glass-Steagall legislation will eventually emerge from Congress.