Recently, I met a man who works at Wells Fargo Bank and asked him to give advice to my readers on Cash Flow Tips Today about business loans. He agreed, I emailed him questions and then I didn't hear from him. Not unusual. People get busy. But why he got busy is a different story.

Indy Mac bank closed its doors and federal regulators took over. I drove past the headquarters in Pasadena where I live and lines of people were standing outside. It seemed like panic was going to strike and there would be a run on the banks. Fortunately, that never materialized.

And then my acquaintance at Wells Fargo wrote me an email and apologized for taking so long to answer my questions. He said ever since Indy Mac closed, and other banks are listed at risk, that Wells Fargo is swamped beyond capacity.

I wrote back and asked, "you mean swamped with new accounts?"

He responded that a lot of money is flowing through the doors and the paperwork in opening new accounts is flying around furiously.

It looks like the current banking crisis is good for banks that are solid and well capitalized.

Meanwhile, a look around other states and releases from banking commissioners in places such as Alabama, Connecticut, Minnesota, North Carolina and New Mexico, among others, revealed that banks in their states are in good shape.

Minnesota's three largest banks --TCF, US Bank and Wells Fargo -- seem to be in pretty good shape, according to a recent online article on Minnesota Public Radio. One banking analyst wrote that TCF's loans are mostly home equity loans but they write small loan to value amounts.

So the old adage seems to remain true. If you don't need money that's when banks are willing to lend to you . . . at least smart banks.