What happens to banks during a recession?

In an economic recession, confidence in banking institutions often fail, causing unemployment which in turn causes a lack of demand for certain products. Citizens lack confidence about the economic future and thus do not buy homes. Investors lack confidence in the stocks of corporations and sell their shares causing huge losses. Government intervention can ease the effects of a recession, however, many economists are certain that at times too much government intervention only prolongs recessions. People out of work rely on unemployment benefits, so large ticket item purchases such as automobiles are postponed. In the US' Great Depression, some economists claim that President Roosevelt's remedies prolonged the recession. At that time, unemployment reached 25% of people seeking work.