Why shouldn't I trust banks?

Asked by: Colby Langworth  |  Last update: July 16, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (51 votes)

Some banks have made headlines for selling customers products they don't need or creating fake accounts for customers in the name of earning a profit. If those behaviors have made you skeptical of banks, you're not alone: 33 percent of unbanked consumers in the FDIC's latest research say that they don't trust banks.

Why not trust banks?

Fees and Transparency: Many customers feel that banks charge excessive fees and are not transparent about their terms, leading to a sense of mistrust. Privacy Concerns: With increasing data breaches and concerns over how banks handle personal information, many people worry about the security of their financial data.

Is it safe to trust banks?

Yes, it does so long as they are member FDIC banks. FDIC insurance is not limited to brick-and-mortar banks. What happens when FDIC-insured banks close? The FDIC works to ensure that your insured deposits - up to $250,000 - are covered and available for you.

Which banks should I avoid?

The 10 Worst-Rated Banks in America
  • Wells Fargo.
  • Citibank.
  • Bank of America.
  • Capital One.
  • Discover Bank.
  • Citizens Bank.
  • Flagstar Bank.
  • Fifth Third Bank.

Why do people not believe in banks?

If a bank purposefully pushes people into charges thorugh the way they process credits and debits, or if a bank opaquely tries to introduce fees for transactions without transparency, then they know they are going to be disliked even more.

5 Assets That SHOULD Never Go Into A Living Trust

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How trustworthy are banks?

Your money is safe in a bank with FDIC insurance

A bank account is typically the safest place for your cash, since banks can be insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Are people losing faith in banks?

Consumer trust in the nation's largest retail banks has declined significantly during the past two years due to unexpected fees, poor customer service, and bad press, according to the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study.

What is the least trusted bank?

Bank of America has the most complaints of any bank in the U.S., and also has more one-star reviews on consumer review websites. Customers consider it one of the banks with worst security and report poor customer service, long wait times, excessive fees, and the bank holding their money for no reason.

What is the number 1 ranked bank?

1. JPMorgan Chase Bank — $3.58 trillion. New York, NY-based JPMorgan Chase is the largest US bank with total assets of $3.58 trillion. Domestic assets of $2.67 trillion account for 74% of its total assets.

What is the most trust bank?

Following one of the most successful years in United's long history, United Bank has been named the Most Trustworthy Bank in America by Newsweek for 2023.

Should I take my money out of the bank in 2024?

Inflation Is Eating Away at Your Funds

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average rate of inflation from April 2023 to April 2024 was 3.4%. If you've been keeping your money in a savings account with a lower yield than the rate of inflation, you should switch over to a higher-yield account.

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.

How many people don't trust banks?

Public mistrust of banks is widespread. According to an April 2023 survey of Americans by Gallup, nearly 50 percent of people are worried about the safety of their money in banks.

What makes a bank a bad bank?

A bad bank is a bank set up to buy the bad loans and other illiquid holdings of another financial institution. The entity holding significant nonperforming assets will sell these holdings to the bad bank at market price.

Which bank is more trustworthy?

America's Most Trusted® BANK

Chase produced the highest score and rank on the Net Trust Quotient Score among recognized bank brands in the study. Chase captured the 5 Star Rating with a Net Trust Quotient Score of 101.3. This is the third consecutive year in which Chase has ranked #1 in Trust.

What is the best bank to be with?

  1. HSBC Holdings. HSBC is one of the largest banking and financial services organisations in the world. ...
  2. Barclays. Barclays is a British multinational investment bank and financial services company. ...
  3. Lloyds. ...
  4. NatWest Group. ...
  5. Standard Chartered. ...
  6. Santander UK. ...
  7. Nationwide Building Society. ...
  8. TSB Bank.

Which bank is very safe?

As per RBI, the three D-SIBs have been placed in different 'buckets'. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has identified State Bank of India (SBI), HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank as the country's most systemically important financial institutions, designating them as Domestic Systemically Important Banks (D-SIBs).

Which bank has the most complaints?

Wells Fargo Bank, Bank of America, and JPMorgan Chase were the most complained-about banks in the United States, as measured by total number of complaints.

Is your money 100% safe in the bank?

The Federal Government Insures Deposits

In both cases, the government insures each depositor at each institution for up to $250,000. This means that if the bank fails and its assets are wiped out, the government will reimburse you for any and all lost money up to $250,000.

Is Chase a safe bank?

Chase Secure Banking has been certified by Bank On for meeting the National Account Standards as a low-cost, low-fee account since 2019.

Has anyone lost money in a bank failure?

A changing landscape

Uninsured depositors have lost their money in just 6% of all bank failures since 2008. But before that, it was the norm for uninsured depositors to lose it all when a bank went bust.

Should Americans take their money out of banks?

In short, if you have less than $250,000 in your account at an FDIC-insured US bank, then you almost certainly have nothing to worry about. Each deposit account owner will be insured up to $250,000 — so, for example, if you have a joint account with your spouse, your money will be insured up to $500,000.

How safe are banks now?

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.