Goldman Sachs is in discussions with US regulators about repaying the $10 billion it received from the government by mid-April, according to an unnamed source quoted in the Boston Globe.

Goldman Sachs does not expect to be allowed to repay the Troubled Asset Relief Program money until the Treasury finishes so-called stress tests of major banks' financial stability, the person said. Regulators expect to complete the review in April.

"We've indicated our desire to repay TARP capital sooner rather than later, but obviously won't do anything without the approval of our regulators," a Goldman Sachs spokesman said.

Sheila Bair, chairwoman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, said Goldman Sachs should return the TARP funds if it can and that regulators should not discourage exit strategies for banks that want to end their participation in the program.