Which investment bank's collapse became the symbol of the 2008 global financial crash?

Lehman Brothers became the symbol of the 2008 global financial crash when it filed for bankruptcy on September 15, 2008. With about $639 billion in assets, it was the largest U.S. corporate bankruptcy at that time.

Lehman had built a large business in mortgage-backed securities and other real-estate investments. As U.S. house prices fell and subprime borrowers defaulted, the firm suffered heavy losses and struggled to find a buyer or government-supported rescue.

The bankruptcy intensified a crisis already affecting banks, insurers and credit markets. Merrill Lynch was acquired by Bank of America, while the U.S. government rescued insurer AIG. Lehman's failure is often treated as a turning point, although the broader crash had begun earlier with the housing and credit bubbles.