Poll Tracker

The number of Americans opposed to government providing money to banking and financial institutions has steadily grown since December to the point where now a majority oppose such aid, according to a CBS News poll conducted March 12-15.

Fifty-three percent oppose these programs compared to 37 percent who approve of them. In December, Americans were nearly evenly divided with 46 percent approving to 42 percent disapproving. And these numbers could grow with anger growing on Capitol Hill and among the public over the $165 billion being paid in bonuses to employees of the bailed-out American International group. Forty-eight percent in the poll said they were resentful irresponsible bankers could benefit from the federal aid.

Three-quarters of those polled said the banks' current problems were directly the result of management decisions not economic conditions beyond their control.