jecasc - 3:39 pm on Mar 31, 2010 (gmt 0)

But considering that it's other people's money they'd be lending you, it is good and right that they err on the side of caution.

Actually no. Banks don't lend other peoples money. At least only to a small percentage. If you go to a bank to get a loan, they create more than 80% of the loan out of thin air. They simply type it into the computer and create it.