U.S. banking regulators have the authority to oust executives and directors of institutions receiving federal bailout dollars, leaving many analysts and academics to wonder whether government officials will move to shake up the corporate leadership at reeling banks.

"There will be some [government] pressure for certain executives to step down. Citigroup will be first, other than GMAC, but there will be more resignations," said Christopher Whalen, managing director of Institutional Risk Analytics, in Torrance, Calif. "With Citi, we taxpayers are effectively guaranteeing their debt, they are effectively nationalized already, so bank regulators definitely have the power to force bank CEOs to resign."

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