In recessions, the finance units can be counted on to lend money to their customers when banks cannot.

Ford Credit is the most successful of the finance units, having made money every year since its creation in 1959.

A FEW experts say the finance units could be sold.

General Electric reported a modest 2 percent profit increase but said earnings of its finance unit jumped 19 percent.

A finance unit, a station or branch that provides window services and accepts mail, but does not provide delivery.

The earnings of the finance unit, which finances aircraft purchases and leases equipment, rose 23 percent, to $42.6 million, last year.

The finance unit will also gain access to the banks' lower cost of capital.

So the finance units of the automakers began doing a lot of leasing.

The finance unit denied any liability or wrongdoing in the settlement.

"We have to be able to control our finance unit," he said.