The Financial Times reports that Deutsche Bank CEO Josef Ackermann has warned that lawmakers and regulators need to strike the right balance between ensuring that banks are encouraged to act prudently and hampering economic growth.

Ackermann told the newspaper that 'there is a trade-off between maximising stability of banks and optimising growth of the real economy. That balance should not be forgotten........We need to start again with an intensive dialogue between the private sector and the public sector on the strategic questions, on the technical details, including what is the economic price of certain things we are doing'. US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner called Ackermann's comments 'lobbying', and said that he and his G20 colleagues were determined to push on with reform.

In the meantime, Bloomberg reports that Deutsche's CFO, Stefan Krause, has said that his bank doesn't need a 'substantial recapitalization', as 'we feel very well prepared'.

Associated Press reports that Bank of America's board has formed a six-member committee to identify a successor for CEO Ken Lewis. Led by Chairman Walter Massey, the committee is comprised of Charles Gifford, Charles Holliday, Thomas May, Donald Powell and Thomas Ryan (all men, you'll note). And The Wall Street Journal reports that the bank's board plan to have an 'emergency' CEO held in reserve, just in case legal problems force Lewis to stand down before the end of the year. A decision on the 'emergency' CEO is expected within days, but the identity of the chosen one is expected to be a closely guarded secret.

BofA has also authorized a $713m dividend payment to the US Treasury pursuant to the preferred stock the taxpayer holds following last year's bailout.

Emerging Markets magazine has reported that Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, the biggest individual investor in Citi, has said that the sooner the US government sells its stake in firms like Citi, the better. The Prince said that 'we need to give confidence back to the shareholders and investors that these companies are moving along without government support'.

Bloomberg reports that HSBC has agreed the sale and leaseback of its US HQ at 452 Fifth Avenue in New York. The deal, which is expected to close next year, will generate $330m in cash.

And Dow Jones Newswires reports that French Bank Societe Generale has said that it aims to repay the government's state aid as soon as possible, maybe as soon as the end of the year.

Finally, Reuters reports that David Zhang, a former JPMorgan employee, has filed a lawsuit against the firm, claiming that he was fired after advising senior management and regulators that the bank wasn't marking down certain Bear Stearns commercial loan and other assets properly.

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