Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein is sorry. Speaking yesterday at a conference sponsored by Directorship magazine (which has named him CEO of the Year), Blankfein expressed remorse for the firm’s role in helping to bring the country to the brink of financial collapse:

“We participated in things that were clearly wrong and have reason to regret and we apologize for them.”

A few hours later, in a move Goldman swore wasn’t related to recent efforts to burnish its public image, the firm said it would spend $500 million to foster small-business growth—a helping hand to a Main Street still deeply struggling with the effects of financial crisis and recession (even as Goldman itself is back to record profits).

So, what do you say? Could it be time to forgive the vampire squid?