Are banks closing in the US?
The result: A net 1,409 bank branches closed in 2023, compared with 1,854 in 2022, according to the S&P Global data. Both years were down notably from the all-time high in 2021.
Banks have been closing locations across the country, as more of their clients opt for the convenience of online banking. In just one week several institutions shuttered dozens of their branches combined, leaving thousands with no easy access to cash.
Customers are increasingly turning to online banking to manage their finances while banks and building societies look for ways to cut costs. Here is the full list of banks shutting for good in 2024, and their closure dates.
- Bank of Scotland – 10 more branches closing (26 in total).
- Halifax – 22 more branches closing (69 in total).
- Lloyds – 21 more branches closing (81 in total).
There were 566 bank failures from 2001 through 2024. See Summary by Year below.
Yes, if your money is in a U.S. bank insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and you have less than $250,000 there. If the bank fails, you'll get your money back. Nearly all banks are FDIC insured.
Bank Name | City | Cert |
---|---|---|
Heartland Tri-State Bank | Elkhart | 25851 |
First Republic Bank | San Francisco | 59017 |
Signature Bank | New York | 57053 |
Silicon Valley Bank | Santa Clara | 24735 |
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.
Cash machines (ATMs)
If you just want to withdraw cash, the easiest option if probably a free ATM. Use Link's free cash locator to find the one nearest to you.
As the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates in 2022 in response to the 2021–2023 inflation surge, bond prices declined, decreasing the market value of bank capital reserves, causing some banks to incur unrealized losses; to maintain liquidity, Silicon Valley Bank sold its bonds to realize steep losses.
What happens if your bank closes?
If a bank closes, what happens to your money depends on whether the account is sold to another institution or the FDIC takes responsibility for paying out depositors. In most cases, accounts are sold to another bank, and you will automatically have access to your funds at the new institution.
Switch to a new account
If your local branch closes but you want to continue managing your finances in person, you could consider switching your current and/or savings account to another bank or building society with a branch in your local area.
Twelve major bank branches closed in January alone and another 38 will have been shut down by the end of this month. They are among 245 banks set to close in 2024, with another six branches also due to shut but with no end date yet announced. Meanwhile, the closure of 15 banks in 2025 has already been announced.
Recently, 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.
Bank | Forbes Advisor Rating | Learn More |
---|---|---|
Chase Bank | 5.0 | Learn More Read Our Full Review |
Bank of America | 4.2 | |
Wells Fargo Bank | 4.0 | Learn More Read Our Full Review |
Citi® | 4.0 |
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.
The FDIC Covers CDs in the Event of Bank Failure
But the recent regional banking turmoil may have you concerned about your investment in case of a bank failure. CDs are treated by the FDIC like other bank accounts and will be insured up to $250,000 if the bank is a member of the agency.
Experts told us that credit unions do fail, like banks (which are also generally safe), but rarely. And deposits up to $250,000 at federally insured credit unions are guaranteed, just as they are at banks.
2024 in Brief
There are no bank failures in 2024. See detailed descriptions below. For more bank failure information on a specific year, select a date from the drop down menu to the right or select a month within the graph.
Is Capital One bank safe from collapse?
Your money is safe at Capital One
Capital One, N.A., is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), an independent federal agency. The FDIC insures balances up to $250,000 held in various types of consumer and business deposit accounts.
- Bank of America Corp.
- The Bank of New York Mellon Corp.
- Citigroup Inc.
- The Goldman Sachs Group Inc.
- JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Morgan Stanley.
- State Street Corp.
- Wells Fargo & Co.
Generally speaking, credit unions are safer than banks in a collapse. This is because credit unions use fewer risks, serving individuals and small businesses rather than large investors, like a bank.
Two regional US banks, California-based Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and New York's Signature Bank, have collapsed under the weight of heavy losses on their bond portfolios and a massive run on deposits.
- JPMORGAN CHASE. Member FDIC.
- U.S. BANK. U.S. Bank, also referred to as U.S. Bancorp, is a large bank based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and currently stands as the fifth-largest banking institution in the U.S. ...
- PNC BANK. ...
- CITIBANK. ...
- WELLS FARGO. ...
- CAPITAL ONE. ...
- M&T BANK CORPORATION. ...
- AGRIBANK.
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