'Is My Money Safe?' Financial Failures Spark Worry (2024)

FAQs

Is my money safe if my bank fails? ›

As long as you do business with an FDIC-insured institution and keep less than $250,000 per account ownership category, your funds will be safe if your bank fails. However, you might face some minor inconveniences, such as waiting for a new debit card or updating your automatic payments.

A bank account is typically the safest place for your cash, since banks can be insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured institution, per ownership category. Banks that are insured by the FDIC often say “Member FDIC” on their websites.

If the bank fails, you'll get your money back. Nearly all banks are FDIC insured. You can look for the FDIC logo at bank teller windows or on the entrance to your bank branch. Credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Administration.

FDIC Insurance

Most deposits in banks are insured dollar-for-dollar by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. This insurance covers your principal and any interest you're owed through the date of your bank's default up to $250,000 in combined total balances. You don't have to apply for FDIC insurance.

FDIC insurance coverage guarantees up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category. This means that if you have multiple accounts with the same bank, each account is insured separately up to $250,000.

The news: Last Friday, Pennsylvania financial regulators seized and shut down Philadelphia-based Republic First Bank in the first FDIC-insured bank failure of 2024.

Should you take your money out of the bank during a recession? Probably not. You can withdraw savings to pay bills or reinvest as normal, but banks are somewhat recession-proof. Keep in mind, many banks are FDIC insured: your deposits are protected up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank.

Where to safely keep cash at home. Just like any other piece of paper, cash can get lost, wet or burned. Consider buying a fireproof and waterproof safe for your home. It's also useful for storing other valuables in your home such as jewelry and important personal documents.

Earlier last year Silicon Valley Bank failed March 10, 2023, and then Signature Bank failed two days later, ending the unusual streak of more than 800 days without a bank failure. Before Citizens Bank failed in November 2023, Heartland Tri-State Bank failed July 28, 2023 and First Republic Bank failed May 1, 2023.

Who's pulling their money from traditional banks? In February and March, 29% of bank customers said they'd moved deposits from their primary bank in the last 90 days, according to J.D. Power as reported by Forbes. Younger consumers were far more likely to have pulled their money.

How much cash can you keep at home legally in the US? ›

While it is legal to keep as much as money as you want at home, the standard limit for cash that is covered under a standard home insurance policy is $200, according to the American Property Casualty Insurance Association.

Investors often gravitate toward Treasurys as a safe haven during recessions, as these are considered risk-free instruments. That's because they are backed by the U.S. government, which is deemed able to ensure that the principal and interest are repaid.

Depositing a big amount of cash that is $10,000 or more means your bank or credit union will report it to the federal government. The $10,000 threshold was created as part of the Bank Secrecy Act, passed by Congress in 1970, and adjusted with the Patriot Act in 2002.

If your bank closes, the FDIC will either try to move your money to another bank in good standing or mail you a check for up to the insured amount. If it doesn't move your money, the bank should mail you a check within two business days of closing.

For example, you can keep $250,000 at one bank and deposit additional funds at other banks that are also members of the FDIC. Be sure to use the FDIC's BankFind tool to verify that an institution is covered by the insurance. You can also open an IRA or a revocable trust account, both of which fall under FDIC coverage.

While cash investments like money market funds are relatively low risk, you may decide that you want insurance that you'll never lose your money. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insures up to $250,000 in CDs and savings accounts, so you won't lose your money even if your bank fails.

Still, the FDIC itself doesn't have unlimited money. If enough banks flounder at once, it could deplete the fund that backstops deposits. However, experts say even in that event, bank patrons shouldn't worry about losing their FDIC-insured money.