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The collections include works by such well-known artists as Pablo Picasso and Cindy Sherman. They have come up for sale because the businesses are having problems with existing assets, or have been taken over, and they see their art collections as an asset for raising money. However, they face the challenge of a falling art market, with auction prices dropping 30 percent from their peak in October to the end of March, according to Art Market Research.

The top lot at the bank's collection, the Picasso, is expected to be worth $3 million to $4 million. The Sherman work, which is in the smaller collection, has been estimated at about $2 million.

A number of other corporate art collections are expected to come onto the market this year. The syndicate, led by Philip Hoffman, chief executive of the Fine Art Fund Group, is raising additional money in hopes of bidding for them.