Do banks suffer during a recession?
When economic activity slows down, bank stocks are typically among those hit hardest. That's because banks' earnings are, to varying extents, tied to borrowers' ability to repay their loans, as well as to consumers' and businesses' appetite for more credit.
Impact of economic downturns on banking institutions
Historically, the number of U.S. bank failures has peaked during periods of economic decline. According to Pew Research, two of the biggest banking crises occurred around times of recessions — between 1980 and 1995 and between 2007 and 2014.
If the United States were to enter a recession, the funds you have saved at a bank aren't at risk of becoming lost or inaccessible the same way they were during the Great Depression. There are many more laws and pieces of legislation that protect your money than in the 1930s.
As long as your deposit accounts are at banks or credit unions that are federally insured and your balances are within the insurance limits, your money is safe. Banks are a reliable place to keep your money protected from theft, loss and natural disasters. Cash is usually safer in a bank than it is outside of a bank.
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. You don't have to apply for FDIC insurance.
Bank | Forbes Advisor Rating | Products |
---|---|---|
Chase Bank | 5.0 | Checking, Savings, CDs |
Bank of America | 4.2 | Checking, Savings, CDs |
Wells Fargo Bank | 4.0 | Savings, checking, money market accounts, CDs |
Citi® | 4.0 | Checking, savings, CDs |
bank in a recession, the credit union is likely to fare a little better. Both can be hit hard by tough economic conditions, but credit unions were statistically less likely to fail during the Great Recession. But no matter which you go with, you shouldn't worry about losing money.
Where to put money during a recession. Putting money in savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs keeps your money safe in an FDIC-insured bank account (or NCUA-insured credit union account). Alternatively, invest in the stock market with a broker.
During an economic downturn, it's crucial to control your spending. Try to avoid taking on new debt you don't need, like a house or car. Look critically at smaller expenses, too — there's no reason to keep paying for things you don't use.
The Bottom Line
If you're wondering where to put your money in a recession, consider a high-yield savings account, money market account, CD or bonds. They can provide safe places to store some of your savings. It's worth noting that a recession doesn't mean you should pull all your money out of the stock market.
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.
The best way to avoid losing money if your bank fails is to not exceed the $250,000 FDIC-insured limit. If you have more than that, you can open an account either in another bank, or in the same bank but with a different ownership category (more on ownership categories in the table below).
The FDIC insures bank accounts for up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category. If a bank fails, insured deposits will be moved to another FDIC-insured bank or paid out. You'll usually get a Receiver's Certificate for money that isn't covered by FDIC insurance, but uninsured deposits may not be guaranteed.
- HomeStreet (HMST) little girl holding a stock chart with athumbs down. ...
- Western Alliance (WAL) a frustrated man with a white board behind him that features a black downward arrow. ...
- ECB Bancorp (ECBK) ...
- PacWest Bancorp (PACW) ...
- First Foundation (FFWM)
- First Republic Bank (FRC) . Above average liquidity risk and high capital risk.
- Huntington Bancshares (HBAN) . Above average capital risk.
- KeyCorp (KEY) . Above average capital risk.
- Comerica (CMA) . ...
- Truist Financial (TFC) . ...
- Cullen/Frost Bankers (CFR) . ...
- Zions Bancorporation (ZION) .
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 worst banks are Wells Fargo and Citibank. Wells Fargo is the worst bank overall, with a high percentage of unresolved complaints and loss of Better Business Bureau accreditation. Citibank has a string of high-profile cases involving operational chaos and regulatory fines.
- CITIBANK. ...
- WELLS FARGO. ...
- CAPITAL ONE. ...
- M&T BANK CORPORATION. ...
- AGRIBANK. ...
- COBANK. ...
- AGFIRST. ...
- FARM CREDIT BANK OF TEXAS. Farm Credit Bank of Texas is the fourth member of the U.S. Farm Credit System, providing wholesale lending and business services in states like Texas, Alabama, and New Mexico.
Reasons people keep cash at home include emergency preparedness, financial privacy concerns and mistrust of banks. It's a good idea to keep enough cash at home to cover two months' worth of basic necessities, some experts recommend.
First, bankers believe it is unfair that credit unions are exempt from federal taxation while the taxes that banks pay represent a significant fraction of their earnings—33 percent last year. Second, bankers believe that credit unions have been allowed to expand far beyond their original purpose.
Could credit unions be in trouble?
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.
If a credit union is placed into liquidation, the NCUA's Asset Management and Assistance Center (AMAC) will oversee the liquidation and set up an asset management estate (AME) to manage assets, settle members' insurance claims, and attempt to recover value from the closed credit union's assets.
Cash. Cash is an important asset when it comes to a recession. After all, if you do end up in a situation where you need to pull from your assets, it helps to have a dedicated emergency fund to fall back on, especially if you experience a layoff.
Generally, money kept in a bank account is safe—even during a recession. However, depending on factors such as your balance amount and the type of account, your money might not be completely protected. For instance, Silicon Valley Bank likely had billions of dollars in uninsured deposits at the time of its collapse.
As you increase your cash reserves, investing more in assets (things that increase in value), like stocks or real estate, will pay off in the long term. The key is to invest with a 10-year outlook. During recessions, you have access to more assets for less money.