20 Hilarious Credit Crunch Jokes
Published on October 16, 2008 - 66 Comments
The credit crunch is hitting hard - so why not take some time out to enjoy a bit of a laugh at the expense of all of those people who caused it! This is a selection of humorous jokes relating to finance and specifically the credit crunch. Please feel free to contribute your own in the comments - but remember: keep it clean!
Joke 1
Q: With the current market turmoil, what’s the easiest way to make a small fortune?
A: Start off with a large one.
Joke 2
Q: What’s the difference between an investment banker and a large pizza?
A: A large pizza can feed a family of four.
Joke 3
A rich, dying man, laid on his deathbed, requested to be joined at his bedside by his vicar, his bank manager and his lawyer.
He instructed them that he wished to be buried, when he finally passed away, along with all his money. He gave each of them fifty thousand pounds and asked them to throw the money on top of his coffin, in the burial plot, when he died.
A couple of days later the old man passed away and was buried within the week. At the wake, the three men were chatting and the vicar was suddenly overcome with guilt. He confessed to the other two that he had only thrown only half of the money onto the coffin, as the church needed urgent repairs to the roof. The bank manager thought, ‘What the heck if we are having a confession,’ and told the other two men that he had also only thrown half the money in, as the ‘Credit Crunch’ was hitting hard and he needed some money for the bank to stop it going bust. The lawyer jumped up and said to the other two, ‘I think that is a shameful act on both of you. I threw a cheque in for the full amount!”
Joke 4
Record unemployment levels have been announced today as the Credit Crunch tightens it’s grip.
Worst hit sectors are the construction trade and Icelandic bank robbers.
Joke 5
Q: What’s the definition of optimism?
A: An Investment Banker ironing five shirts on a Sunday evening.
Joke 6
I went to the ATM this morning and it said “insufficient funds”.
I’m wondering is it them or me.
Joke 7
The credit crunch is getting bad isn’t it? I mean, I let my brother borrow $10 a couple of weeks back, it turns out I’m now America’s third biggest lender.
Joke 8
Talked to my bank manager the other day and he said he was going to concentrate on the big issues from now on.
He sold me one outside KFC yesterday.
[NOTE: The big issue is a UK magazine sold by homeless people to make some money]
Joke 9
Resolving to surprise her husband, an investment banker’s wife pops by his office. She finds him in an unorthodox position, with his secretary sitting in his lap. Without hesitation, he starts dictating, “…and in conclusion, gentlemen, credit crunch or no credit crunch, I cannot continue to operate this office with just one chair!”
Joke 10
Q: What’s the difference between Investment Bankers and London Pigeons?
A: The Pigeons are still capable of making deposits on new BMW’s.
Joke 11
Q: What have Icelandic banks and an Icelandic streaker got in common?
A: They both have frozen assets.
Joke 12
Quote of the day (from a trader): “This is worse than a divorce. I’ve lost half my net worth and I still have a wife.”
Joke 13
Q: How do you successfully freeze your financial assets?
A: Invest in an Icelandic bank
Joke 14
A lobbyist on his way home from Parliament is stuck in traffic. Noticing a police officer, he winds down his window and asks: ‘What’s the hold-up?’ The policeman replies: ‘The Prime Minister is so depressed he’s stopped his motorcade and is threatening to douse himself with petrol and set himself on fire. He says no one believes he can get us through the credit crunch. So we’re taking up a collection for him.’ The lobbyist asks: ‘How much have you got so far?’ The officer replies: ‘About 40 gallons, but a lot of people are still siphoning.’
Joke 15
You know it’s a credit crunch when…
1. The cashpoint asks if you can spare any change.
2. There’s a ‘buy one, get one free’ offer - on banks.
3. The IRS is offering a 25 per cent discount for cash-payers.
4. UK Prime minister Gordon Brown has stopped chewing his nails and started sucking his thumb.
5. Your builder asks to be paid in Zimbabwean dollars rather than US dollars.
Joke 16
Q: What’s the capital of Iceland?
A: About $3.50.
Joke 17
Uncertainty has now hit Japan. In the last seven days, Origami bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up and Bonsai Bank has announced plans to cut some of its branches. Yesterday, it was also announced that Karaoke Bank will go up for sale and will likely go for a song, while shares in Kamikaze Bank were suspended today after they nose-dived. While Samurai Bank is soldiering on after sharp cutbacks, 500 staff at Karate Bank got the chop and analysts report that there is something fishy going on at Sushi Bank, where it is feared that staff may get a raw deal.
Joke 18
Why have real estate agents stopped looking out of the window in the morning? Because otherwise they’d have nothing to do in the afternoon.
Joke 19
Q: What’s the difference between an American and a Zimbabwean?
A: In a few weeks, nothing.
Joke 20
Q: George Bush was asked today “what did he think of the Credit Crunch?”
A: He replied: “It was his favorite Candy Bar.”
Jokes sourced from: BBC News, Sickipedia, and The Daily Mail
Related Lists10 Funny PicturesVideocast: Top 30 Brilliantly Timed Sports Photos Top 10 Tips for Achieving Financial Freedom Top 10 Significant Listverse Lists |
SubscriptionsLike this article? Subscribe to the RSS feed to keep 'em coming, or subscribe via email: |
If you find this site helpful, please leave a donation so you can enjoy the spirit of giving too.
Email This Post





1. wainboy - October 17th, 2008 at 2:02 am
JOKES FTW!!!!
2. alexisgay - October 17th, 2008 at 2:03 am
alex ur gay for listening to minnie riperton
3. ZedroZ - October 17th, 2008 at 2:03 am
Ha ha ha ha ha
Those were classic!
Gotta love #20
4. astraya - October 17th, 2008 at 2:15 am
Some time ago there was a ?Far Side cartoon of the front of the typical investment bank building. In the footpath was a human sized and shaped crack. Next to it was a sign saying “Position vacant: Fund Manager. Apply on 13th floor”.
Nit-pick: #19 is incorrect - in a few weeks time America will have a new president!
5. Denzell - October 17th, 2008 at 2:21 am
Joke 12
Quote of the day (from a trader): “This is worse than a divorce. I’ve lost half my net worth and I still have a wife.”
~My favorite!
6. LubLub - October 17th, 2008 at 2:31 am
lol joke 3 and 7 actually made me laugh out loud…and the picture of the Queen…hahahaha
7. Yuri Vas - October 17th, 2008 at 2:35 am
Joke 9 it has to be the best of the lot. would be nice to be fast thinking as the guy
8. Ren - October 17th, 2008 at 3:54 am
I’ve never heard it been called the credit crunch.
9. Ghidoran - October 17th, 2008 at 4:57 am
Lol!
10. Hemza3000 - October 17th, 2008 at 5:02 am
Joke 5
Q: What’s the definition of optimism?
A: An Investment Banker ironing five shirts on a Sunday evening.
I ummm.. don’t get that one… wait, I think I just got it…:)
and joke 17 is brilliant.
11. Jaz_3 - October 17th, 2008 at 5:05 am
nice one..
12. Mortivore - October 17th, 2008 at 5:37 am
I liked number twelve the best. Women and credit in one go-round. Badda-boom! XD
13. LZ - October 17th, 2008 at 5:45 am
The optimism one was amazing.
THE BIG ISSUE FTW (Y)
14. bry the creep - October 17th, 2008 at 6:06 am
sucky suck suck. you suck
15. Brickhouse - October 17th, 2008 at 6:08 am
I like the queen at McDonald’s… Oddly she looks so natural. But I think she’d prefer to be a greeter at Walmart.
Joke 17 was just a serious of horribly puns! But it did make me smile.
Nice list!
16. Brickhouse - October 17th, 2008 at 6:10 am
*horriblE puns… Man, I need to read my comments over before I submit.
17. Brickhouse - October 17th, 2008 at 6:11 am
*series (not serious)… Wow, I’m tired.
18. SarahJ - October 17th, 2008 at 6:34 am
haha this cracked me up. Credit crunch does, however, sound like a cereal!
19. JayArr - October 17th, 2008 at 6:58 am
What do you call it when a banker falls in love with a stinky economy?
Inflatulation!
20. NickChuck - October 17th, 2008 at 7:38 am
Its funny because its true. Also, its depressing because its true.
21. The_Patient - October 17th, 2008 at 7:49 am
Haha, a nice spin to the credit crunch.
6,7 and 12 are my favourites.
Also, I buy the big issue all the time!
22. Polymath - October 17th, 2008 at 8:17 am
Haha. I didn’t notice that was the Queen till I raed the comments.
23. segue - October 17th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Credit crunch - recession: it all depends on where you are. In the U.S. it’s absolutely a recession, even with the “bail out” it could turn into a depression with bad luck.
Everyone I know is cashing out. Totally. Except for those funds in bullet-proof bonds, every other cent has gone to cash. That cash is either (stupidly) under the mattress, or in an insured savings account at a solid institution, one of the few which have not been in any financial trouble.
Somehow, I can’t find any humor in this situation. People are literally losing everything, middle-class people, never mind the poor who have been wiped out, and will be further damaged by a McCain health plan on top of this recession! Our own home has lost 1/3 of it’s value recently. It will recover, but where is the humor in that?
Thank God we have government health insurance, or my husband and I would not be able to afford health insurance due to “pre-existing conditions”.
We can’t go visit our children, all of whom are within a days drive, because of the cost: gas, hotel, food…
This is just not a funny situation. And we are in *good* shape, we have no credit card debt. We own our car. We own everything we have. The only bills are the mortgage and the household bills, still, we have to tighten our belts.
Nope. There’s nothing funny about this.
Nothing.
24. memnoch - October 17th, 2008 at 8:47 am
I’ve heard the joke about the pizza feeding the family of four before. But the other part was not about an investment banker. It’s a racist joke that someone changed a bit.
25. Mike599 - October 17th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Can somebody give me some careers advice? I used to be a bank robber but thats gone belly up!
26. smurff - October 17th, 2008 at 9:11 am
segue # 23 a very well written comment - a lot of us are in the same boat, how does the saying go - bite the bullet and try and weather the storm.
Touching comment thanks segue.
27. smurff - October 17th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Mike599 apply at the bank to become a security guard - its proberly one of the safest jobs around at the moment.
28. cajoba - October 17th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Segue–cashing out?!? It’s buy low, sell high, not the other way around. It does look like everyone has lost a lot of money (I know my investments are down quite a bit), but the markets will recover, and you can only reap the benefits of the recovery if you’re invested. That’s why I’m doubling down with my investments this winter; getting two years of IRA cash in while the market is low.
Jury’s out on a US recession despite how bad the economy feels; for the moment at least. The economy has grown the last 3 quarters, just very slowly, and unemployment is still low. From all the vendors I’ve talked to, the credit crunch hasn’t hurt their business yet. All depends on how fast the credit markets free up…we’re not making the mistake of ‘33 and reducing the money supply, so in the end we’ll be fine.
29. JayArr - October 17th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Mike599(25) I hear panhandling is still a very lucrative profession - we have one old boy in our neighborhood who’s been doing it for at least 7 years, and he’s got a new shopping cart, fresh overcoat, sparkly new trash bags, and milkshakes every day.
30. Nikki - October 17th, 2008 at 10:03 am
lol the japan joke made me laugh, omg its my birthday!:D
31. MT - October 17th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Most of those jokes are not funny IMO. Maybe it’s because I’m just in a bad mood.
When I got home last night, my wife demanded that I take her someplace expensive, so I took her to a gas station. She made me sleep on the couch.
32. Malfore - October 17th, 2008 at 10:12 am
This seriously is not a funny issue (jokes were kinda funny though). I am a college student. At the moment, I have not gotten enough training to get a decent job in my field, and with the economy here in Las Vegas, all the lower level jobs are taken. I am a culinary student, and I cant even get a job at McDonalds. With the credit crisis I will probably not be able to get enough loans to continue my education, and if I do have to leave school, I’ll have to start making loan payments without the means to do so. This may be funny to non-Americans (god knows, I know it must be nice to see us assholes on our backs), but many of us are in serious danger of losing our homes,education, and dreams. With the WILD market fluctuations, the upcoming election, and all the other crap piled on, many Americans feel hopeless. This is not a joke.
That being said, if you cant laugh in crisis, all you have is crisis. Good list
33. Cernunnos - October 17th, 2008 at 10:39 am
all fun, except for 17, which sucked.
XD
34. testpaper - October 17th, 2008 at 10:53 am
The Iceland jokes must land better in the UK. We in the States, have very little opinion or knowledge of Iceland. Are they the butt of a lot jokes in that part of the world?
35. Christine - October 17th, 2008 at 11:09 am
A lot of my money is in funds, I haven’t cashed out because I know that in the long run, I will still make money. We can’t stay in a depression forever. I am sure I am one of the only people who haven’t called our financial advisor in panic, asking to withdraw all our funds. However, I also have the benefit of being young. In 35 years when I retire, hopefully the funds I left in will have gone even higher.
36. Kreachure - October 17th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Funny stuff! But, poor Iceland. What did they ever do to deserve bankrupcy?
(Get it? “Poor”?
)
37. kiwiboi - October 17th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
The Iceland jokes must land better in the UK
teatpaper - to an extent, yes. And there is a particular sensitivity here to Icelandic banks at the moment.
Icelandic banks were offering superior interest rates in the UK for some time. Nothing wrong with that, considering that the banks were appropriately regulated and in supposedly good shape. Besides, depositors’ funds were covered for up to £35,000 (recently increased to £50k) under the bank deposit guarantee scheme. However, in the event of a bank default etc., the deal would be that the Icelandic authorities would be good for approx. half of the 35,000, with the British compensation scheme making up the balance.
So far, so good..until the credit crunch hit bank liquidity very hard recently and a number of Icelandic banks were forced to cease trading - bringing in to play the Deposit Guarantee Scheme mentioned above. Except the Icelandic authorities announced that they did not have the funds at that time to make good on the compensation to offshore (incl. British) depositors.
In response, the British government then pulled a diplomatic masterstroke. They froze billions of dollars worth of Icelandic assets held in the UK by applying Anti-Terrorism legislation; legislation that they assured us when it was implemented in the aftermath of 9/11, would only be applied in the most extreme and emergency circumstances should the security of Britain be under imminent threat.
It did not go un-noticed that at the same time GW Bush was taking Nth Korea off of the US Terrorist shit-list, Britain was applying terrorist legislation againt a NATO ally!!
38. Yun - October 17th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
I am dumber for having read #17.
39. Spinner - October 17th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
I do like the jokes…. lets face it, there isn’t a topic that can’t have fun poked at it.
The reserve bank man in NZ has been strongly advising people here to stop spending money they don’t have for probably 2 years. I think a lot of people in the world of finance have been aware that this was a likely result of the relatively thoughtless borrowing we were doing. I can’t imagine why so many of the banks thought it was a good idea to throw money at us. They should have known better because finance is their speciality. Go figure.
I think the picture of the Queen is hysterical.
40. segue - October 17th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
28. cajoba
Segue–cashing out?!? It’s buy low, sell high, not the other way around.
****
We’d cashed out of the stock market a year ago. I was speaking of cashing out even IRA’s and market fund accounts.
With a market this volatile, you want to *BUY*???
Nu-uh. Not until, or if, things settle somewhat, and we know which way things are going. Every day there’s a triple digit change from the day previous, in the opposing direction! I’m not wasting *my* little bit of hard earned money again until the economy has had a chance to take a deep breath and get its bearings.
This is not that time.
41. bigski - October 17th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Being fron the U.S most of these jokes I dont get and the rest are lame.What happened to that BITING ENGLISH humor yall are famous for ? The picture of Q.E II is cool !
42. Tim - October 17th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Have you seen http://www.creditcrunchjokes.com?
43. Dan S. - October 17th, 2008 at 5:17 pm
This list sucked, these jokes aren’t funny they are just depressing.
44. avie - October 17th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
lol gosh there will be no distinction in a few weeks to us and Zimbabweans. hahaha #20 my fav.!
45. shamzahm - October 17th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
#12 is the best
46. goof_ball - October 17th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
theyre kinda funny but true
47. orenj21 - October 17th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
that was a good laugh
48. Blogball - October 17th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Thanks for the explanation on Iceland jokes kiwiboi I was wondering about all of that.
That photo shop picture of the Queen is hilarious! I know she would probably say I wish I had those young arms.
49. Mimsa - October 18th, 2008 at 1:59 am
That comment about the Queen’s arms is the funniest thing on the page. #17 sucked: 十七ばんわとてもわるかったですよ。
Also, how come it’s a ‘credit crunch’ in the UK, a ‘recession’ in the US, but a ‘financial crisis’ in Australia? Everything here already costs a bloody truckload.
50. MarK - October 18th, 2008 at 4:25 am
the biggest joke was when the feds said america was officially in a recession a few days back…a bit like some one in a green shirt announcing that he/she is in fact wearing a green shirt =/
51. Simon - October 18th, 2008 at 8:35 am
I see you read this - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7663475.stm
52. rubyserpent_720 - October 19th, 2008 at 1:15 am
lol. Is it sad of me to find #17 funny?
53. rubyserpent_720 - October 19th, 2008 at 1:24 am
Credit Crisis Glossary
CEO — Chief Embezzlement Officer.
CFO — Corporate Fraud Officer.
BULL MARKET — A random market movement causing an investor to mistake himself for a financial genius.
BEAR MARKET — A 6 to 18 month period when the kids get no allowance, the wife gets no jewellery, and the husband gets no sex.
VALUE INVESTING — The art of buying low and selling lower.
P/E RATIO — The percentage of investors wetting their pants as the market keeps crashing.
BROKER — What my broker has made me.
STANDARD & POOR — Your life in a nutshell.
STOCK ANALYST — Idiot who just downgraded your stock.
STOCK SPLIT — When your ex-wife and her lawyer split your assets equally between themselves.
FINANCIAL PLANNER — A guy whose phone has been disconnected.
MARKET CORRECTION — The day after you buy stocks.
CASH FLOW– The movement your money makes as it disappears down the toilet.
INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR — Past year investor who’s now locked up in a nuthouse.
PROFIT — An archaic word no longer in use.
54. Mocoso - October 19th, 2008 at 3:20 am
This is the worst list on this site. It’s a poorly-written collection of jokes taken from other sites.
55. romero - October 19th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
i laughed at all of these but immediately groaned a sad “aww…” right after..
=) great list
56. Hillery - October 20th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Joke #18: Hahahahahahahahahahah!
Joke #19: Ouch.
57. joanne - October 22nd, 2008 at 1:48 am
whenever i see Mr. Bernanke on tv, newspapers, magazines, photos, anywhere, for some reason i’m immediately reminded of christmas; santa claus in particular.
58. joanne - October 22nd, 2008 at 2:19 am
humanity has gone through worse things but has learned much from them, adapted, and eventually triumphed; i am very confident that we will never make the same mistakes again.
btw…
astraya: you’re right. joke # 19 is incorrect. in a few weeks america will vote.
59. Sergey - October 22nd, 2008 at 9:30 am
Old joke from our 1998 (previous crash) that everyone repeats now:
“There are now a lot of people on the streets that are still well-dressed but already hungry”.
60. sugen - October 23rd, 2008 at 1:49 am
great list
61. pinkchihuahua - October 23rd, 2008 at 2:04 pm
cool jokes
62. Dr Cecil Rickets - November 26th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Credit Crunch Capers Cooking Comedy viral
http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=KOoatN4rK5Q
63. sarah - December 11th, 2008 at 2:01 am
a funny Credit crunch Christmas vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQaqHf4MVsU
64. notsa70 - December 12th, 2008 at 2:26 am
Great jokes - really enjoyed them! Thanks!
65. Blizard - December 17th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
#19!!!
It is such a low blow (especially Because i’m American)… but it’s SO Extremely hilarious that i can’t stop laughing!