The US Banking System Is Still Vulnerable, NY Fed Blog Says (2024)

FAQs

How safe is the US banking system? ›

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.

Major and regional bank indexes are still struggling since the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank. These banks need to either raise capital, likely from private equity sources as NYCB did, or merge with stronger banks, Graham said.

Last week, the Federal Reserve issued its inaugural report on financial stability. The report provides a clear assessment that the nation's banking system is strong, resilient, and positioned to support the economy, even in the event of an economic downturn.

While the US banking sector is stable, growing vulnerabilities leave at least some institutions under a near-term threat of funding pressure and capital shortfalls, according to Federal Reserve Bank of New York staff.

Banking regulation has changed over the last 100 years to provide more protection to consumers. You can keep money in a bank account during a recession and it will be safe through FDIC and NCUA deposit insurance. Up to $250,000 is secure in individual bank accounts and $500,000 is safe in joint bank accounts.

First and foremost, it is essential to choose a bank that is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The FDIC insures deposits up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank. This means that if your bank fails, you can still get your money back up to the insured amount.

A report posted on the Social Science Research Network found that 186 banks in the United States are at risk of failure or collapse due to rising interest rates and a high proportion of uninsured deposits.

The collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in March 2023—then the second- and third-largest bank failures in U.S. history—took consumers by surprise. Subsequently, three more banks failed in 2023: First Republic Bank in May, Heartland Tri-State Bank in July and Citizens Bank of Sac City in November.

What banks are failing in 2024? ›

First Bank Failure of 2024 Near Anniversary of SVB, Signature, and First Republic Failures. The seizure and subsequent sale of Republic Bank comes a little more than a year after a series of bank failures that rocked the industry in 2023, as Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank shut down in March 2023.

Based on the analysis of Bank of America's financial health, risk profile, and regulatory compliance, we can conclude that the bank is relatively safe from any trouble or collapse.

Here's what typically happens. The FDIC announces that the bank is closed, and the FDIC is appointed as its receiver so it can help use the bank's assets to pay depositors and creditors. In most cases, the FDIC will try to find another banking institution to acquire the failed bank.

Powell: 'There will be bank failures' caused by commercial real estate losses. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Thursday he expects to see some banks fail due to their exposure to the commercial real estate sector, which has declined significantly in value following the shift to remote work.

Banking problems can often be traced to a decrease the value of banks' assets. An deterioration in asset values can occur, for example, due to a collapse in real estate prices or from an increased number of bankruptcies in the nonfinancial sector.

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.

Bottom line. For the most part, if you keep your money at an institution that's FDIC-insured, your money is safe — at least up to $250,000 in accounts at the failing institution. You're guaranteed that $250,000, and if the bank is acquired, even amounts over the limit may be smoothly transferred to the new bank.