Banks Helping Homeowners

Read an article in a realtor publication yesterday. Why are banks not helping underwater homeowners more? There should be alternatives to loan modifications (if possible), short sales and foreclosures - even bankruptcy. The bank looses on short sales, foreclosures and bankruptcies. A better alternative would be to keep the homeowners in the home. Let the homeowner pay principal only for a period of time. Forgiving interest for a few years would be a less costly alternative. There are many business minded people out there that have a lot of good ideas to help stem the foreclosure tidal wave.