We're thinking this would make a great two-bedroom loft.

As you’re undoubtedly well-aware, the current financial melt-down has the U.S. government propping up several of the world’s largest banks in hopes of maintaining some semblance of confidence in our economic system. Much of this disaster is bound to shaky real estate investments, but in the shuffle of discussions about foreclosures on private homes, we’re forgetting the nicest digs being freed up by the global banking industry’s demise: bank headquarters.

As we see it, as tax-payer money goes to help banks all over the world stay in business, we should get some kind of share in the use of their properties. In this edition of our weekly financialisticle Big Money Mondays, we look at 12 Ostentatious Bank Buildings that, since we’re paying for with our taxes anyways, we’d love to move into anytime now.