Has anyone lost money in a bank failure?

Asked by: Cecile Farrell  |  Last update: June 9, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (66 votes)

The truth is, the likelihood of losing your money is extremely small as long as an FDIC-insured institution holds it. In fact, since 1933, no one has lost money due to a bank failure, says the FDIC.

Has anyone ever lost money from a bank failure?

Uninsured depositors have lost their money in just 6% of all bank failures since 2008.

Can you lose all your money if a bank fails?

If your bank fails, up to $250000 of deposited money (per person, per account ownership type) is protected by the FDIC. When banks fail, the most common outcome is that another bank takes over the assets and your accounts are simply transferred over.

Has FDIC ever had to pay out?

FDIC deposit insurance protects your money in deposit accounts at FDIC-insured banks in the event of a bank failure. Since the FDIC was founded in 1933, no depositor has lost a penny of FDIC-insured funds.

Where do millionaires keep their money if banks only insure 250k?

Millionaires don't worry about FDIC insurance. Their money is held in their name and not the name of the custodial private bank. Other millionaires have safe deposit boxes full of cash denominated in many different currencies.

Bank Failures: How safe is your money?

30 related questions found

Which banks are at risk of going under?

The banks of greatest concern are Flagstar Bank and Zion Bancorporation, according to the screener. Flagstar Bank reported $113 billion in assets with a total CRE of $51 billion. The bank, however, only had $9.3 billion in total equity, making its total CRE exposure 553% of its total equity.

Are credit unions safer than banks?

Generally, credit unions are viewed as safer than banks, although deposits at both types of financial institutions are usually insured at the same dollar amounts. The FDIC insures deposits at most banks, and the NCUA insures deposits at most credit unions. Seven banks have failed in 2023 and 2024, and all were insured.

When was the last time depositors lost money?

No depositor has lost a penny of FDIC-insured funds since 1933.

What happens to CD if the bank collapses?

Deposits at FDIC-insured banks are covered up to $250,000 per person per account ownership type. For example, a $250,000 certificate of deposit in a single-owner account would be fully insured in the event of a bank failure or liquidation.

Should I pull my money out of the bank?

Should I pull my money out of my bank? It doesn't make sense to take all your money out of a bank, said Jay Hatfield, CEO at Infrastructure Capital Advisors and portfolio manager of the InfraCap Equity Income ETF. But make sure your bank is insured by the FDIC, which most large banks are.

Where should I put my money if banks fail?

To avoid a financial hit if your bank fails, stick to insured institutions and account types, stay under account balance limits and use different ownership arrangements. A financial advisor can help you build a financial plan that accounts for your savings. Speak with an advisor who can help today.

Do you still owe money if a bank collapses?

If a bank goes bankrupt, your loans will not be affected and your funds will be protected by the FDIC. If a lender collapses, your loan may be transferred to another institution, but you are still responsible for making payments.

Are banks shutting down in 2024?

USA Today reports that according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which is the people who handle the money for the government, by the end of 2024 there will have been around 1,000 bank branch closures in America. We are already over 750 closures, to date.

Can credit unions seize your money if the economy fails?

Money deposited into bank accounts will be safe as long as your financial institution is federally insured. The FDIC and National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) oversee banks and credit unions, respectively. These federal agencies also provide deposit insurance.

Can the government take your money from a credit union?

Through “right of offset,” the government allows banks and credit unions to access the savings of their account holders under certain circumstances. This is allowed when the consumer misses a debt payment owed to that same financial institution.

Which is safer, FDIC or NCUA?

Neither one is safer than the other. Both the NCUA and FDIC are backed by the federal government.

Which banks are failing in 2024?

The First National Bank of Lindsay failed on October 18, 2024. Republic First Bank failed on April 26, 2024. Citizens Bank of Sac City, Iowa, failed on November 3, 2023. Heartland Tri-State Bank failed on July 28, 2023.

Has FDIC ever paid out?

The FDIC makes its first deposit insurance claim payments to insured depositors of the Fon Du Lac State bank in East Peoria, Illinois. Lydia Lobsiger is the first depositor to receive an FDIC payment which restores her life savings of $1,250.

Is Wells Fargo bank in trouble?

The California-based bank, which has been under intense scrutiny since a 2016 fake accounts scandal, saw its stock close down 4%, paring a 6.5% loss after the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency announced the action earlier in the day.

Are banks closing in the US?

According to research from Self Financial, based on commercial banking data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, if current trends continue, physical banks in the U.S. could be extinct by 2041. From 2018 to 2022, an astounding 1,646 branches have closed per year on average.

Is Capital One FDIC insured?

Most savings accounts are FDIC-insured. Capital One 360 Performance Savings accounts, 360 CDs and Kids Savings Accounts are all insured by the FDIC up to allowable limits.