List of Failed Banks, Updated August 2018

Over 100 banks failed in 2009. Most of these are smaller regional banks who, in order to compete with larger banks, offered risky loans and are now facing customer defaults. Larger banks were offered government bailouts to prevent failure, but these smaller banks whose failures are not seen as major risks to the economy are left without taxpayer assistance.

The FDIC covers savings accounts, checking accounts, and certificates of deposit to ensure that customers hardly notice when one of these smaller banks fail. As long as a bank is a member of FDIC, and most are, customers should be confident that even if a bank fails, they will be able to withdraw their deposits within the coverage limit. Predicting the increase of bank failures this year, the FDIC decided over a year ago to increase its insurance limits. In 2008, only 26 banks failed compared to over 100 in 2009.

Although there is often worry in the press that FDIC is underfunded and might run out of money, that situation is highly unlikely. The FDIC is requiring banks to start paying their FDIC premiums which have largely been ignored for decades to increase its available funds. The FDIC also has an extensive line of credit with the Treasury, and because Congress will always vote to make sure the FDIC will be able to cover necessary expenses, it is in effect a limitless credit line.

Here is a full list of banks that have failed since 2000. I will update this list as necessary.