Image source: Getty ImagesLast summer, Gallup conducted a poll that revealed Americans' faith in key institutions continued "to lag below historical averages." While the confidence of the American public in a number of institutions, including organized religion, the military, and government entities, had dropped significantly in the last decade, no institution has fallen further than banks.In June 2006, the same poll showed that 49% of Americans had "a great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in the nation's financial institutions.