TheStreet reported GE is likely to follow its announced purchase of Metlife’s retail deposit business with similar acquisitions in 2012.

As reported, the Metlife deal will increase GE Capital's deposits by $7.5 billion, but this figure is only half way toward its stated goal of increasing "alternative funding" by $15 billion to $20 billion in 2012, according to a Dec. 6, 2011 investor presentation.

According the TheStreet report, Ben Elias, analyst at Sterne Agee, believes GE Capital will make up the difference with more acquisitions.  "While there's no surprise that they're doing this deal, it’s sort of a surprise how quickly they're moving," Elias says. As a result of the 2008 crisis when GE and other large companies had difficulty gaining access to funds through the short term commercial paper market, GE has vowed to increase its deposit base. GE Capital sourced 21% of its funds through deposits as of the end of Q3 2011, versus 12% in 2008, according to the Dec. 6 presentation.

The report also provides commentary on potential regulatory changes for GE Capital.  According to the report, Sterne Agee's Elias he does not believe the MetLife deal will change anything for GE Capital from a regulatory point of view. "Buying deposits will not make GE Capital any more or less regulated. This will not make GE Capital a bank holding company," he wrote. GE Capital nonetheless is subject to Federal Reserve oversight.