Finance students today live in the midst of an enormous financial crisis. Institutions both large and small are failing or being rescued through government intervention. This environment presents a host of learning opportunities for instructors as well as students. This paper discusses financial autopsies as a form of experiential learning utilizing data on actual "real world" banks that have failed. The paper provides a framework whereby a student can systematically analyze data to determine the reason or reasons for bank failure. This stimulates student interest in the subject as well as honing their critical thinking skills.