SEC probes banks over mortgage loans

``The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating Royal Bank of Scotland, Credit Suisse and other financial institutions for their handling of problem mortgage loans, according to public disclosures and people familiar with the matter. The SEC is examining whether banks misled shareholders about the number of loans they might be forced to buy back because of early defaults -- known as loan repurchase requests -- and set aside sufficient reserves to fund those purchases or handle related litigation, people familiar with the matter said.''