What UK banks have gone bust?
bankruptcy of Barings Bank, collapse of Barings Bank, Britain's oldest merchant bank, on February 27, 1995, when a single employee committed the bank to losses of roughly £830 million, from which it could not recover.
bankruptcy of Barings Bank, collapse of Barings Bank, Britain's oldest merchant bank, on February 27, 1995, when a single employee committed the bank to losses of roughly £830 million, from which it could not recover.
The most prominent were Bradford & Bingley, which failed on 27 September 2008, and Icesave, which failed on 8 October 2008. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) played a pivotal role in protecting the customers of those banks.
Bank NameBank | CityCity | Closing DateClosing |
---|---|---|
Signature Bank | New York | March 12, 2023 |
Silicon Valley Bank | Santa Clara | March 10, 2023 |
Almena State Bank | Almena | October 23, 2020 |
First City Bank of Florida | Fort Walton Beach | October 16, 2020 |
Why are financial institutions closing bank accounts? The bottom line is that having customers which are not based in the UK creates expensive regulatory problems for UK based financial institutions which have been exacerbated by Brexit, however the threat of account closures pre-dates the 2016 referendum.
The UK's largest banks are no longer “too big to fail” and could foot the bill for their own failures, the Bank of England has said, but it found shortcomings at three banks including HSBC and Lloyds.
HSBC Holdings had the highest amount of risk-weighted assets (RWA) among the five largest banks in the United Kingdom as of 2023. HSBC's total RWAs exceeded 670 billion British pounds. HSBC was followed by Barclays and Standard Chartered.
First Republic Bank, Silicon Valley Bank, and Signature Bank have all shut down in 2023. Here's a brief overview of why these banks failed.
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.
If you're looking to 100% guarantee of your savings, the only bank able to offer that is NS&I. That's because it's part of the government and backed by HM Treasury, meaning every penny of your savings is protected, not just the FSCS limit.
Which is the safest bank?
JPMorgan Chase, the financial institution that owns Chase Bank, topped our experts' list because it's designated as the world's most systemically important bank on the 2023 G-SIB list. This designation means it has the highest loss absorbency requirements of any bank, providing more protection against financial crisis.
- 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) .
Since 1986, significant numbers of bank branches in the UK have closed. Data from the British Banking Association (BBA) from 1986 to 2012 and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) from 2012 to 2023 revealed that the number of bank branches in operation in the UK fell from 14,689 in 1986 to 5,745 in 2023.
According to data from consumer watchdog Which?, around 5,791 branches have closed since January 2015. This is a rate of around 54 a month and is set to continue in the 2024 with major lenders confirming multiple closures.
There is a government scheme in place which will compensate account holders of a bank that has failed, but only up to a limited sum. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) will pay up to £85,000 of funds held in a bank account if the bank collapses. They pay up to £170,000 for a joint account.
As a general rule, your savings are pretty safe in the UK. This is due to the extensive financial regulations in place to ensure banks and financial institutions can withstand situations such as those in the news right now. In addition, we have the additional protection of the FSCS (up to the limits I just mentioned).
UK banks remain strong enough to support households and businesses – even if future economic conditions are worse than we expect. Higher interest payments on loans mean some households and businesses may not be able to make their payments. This increases the risks that banks may face some losses.
If you hold money with a UK-authorised bank, building society or credit union that fails, we'll automatically compensate you. up to £85,000 per eligible person, per bank, building society or credit union. up to £170,000 for joint accounts.
HSBC is by the largest bank not only in the UK, but in Europe, with a market capitalization of over 156 billion U.S. dollars. Other large and well-known banks in the UK are NatWest and Standard Chartered, even though they do not rank among the top players in Europe.
What is the most posh bank in the UK?
- Arbuthnot Latham & Co.
- C Hoare & Co.
- Goldman Sachs International.
- Handelsbanken.
- HSBC Private Bank (UK) Ltd.
- JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Julius Baer International Limited.
- UBS AG.
Bank of America's Financial Health
In recent years, Bank of America's financial performance has been relatively stable. In 2022, the bank reported a net income of $20.4 billion, a decrease from the previous year's $27.4 billion. However, its revenue increased from $91.2 billion in 2021 to $95.2 billion in 2022.
Bank Name | City | State |
---|---|---|
Heartland Tri-State Bank | Elkhart | KS |
First Republic Bank | San Francisco | CA |
Signature Bank | New York | NY |
Silicon Valley Bank | Santa Clara | CA |
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.
These banks were brought down by customers withdrawing deposits en masse, both because many were tech or crypto businesses that needed money to cover losses, and because there were better savings rates available elsewhere.
References
- https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/using-financial-services-register
- https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/42289/documents/210852/default/
- https://www.1edcu.org/are-credit-unions-safer-than-banks-in-a-collapse/
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/who-pays-for-the-bank-of-england
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/financial-stability-report/2022/december-2022
- https://www.thestreet.com/personal-finance/banks-most-at-risk-morningstar
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/financial-conduct-authority
- https://www.occ.treas.gov/topics/charters-and-licensing/financial-institution-lists/index-financial-institution-lists.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coutts
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/about
- https://www.statista.com/topics/6033/leading-uk-banks/
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/financial-policy-summary-and-record/2023/march-2023
- https://money.slickdeals.net/articles/safest-banks-in-the-us/
- https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,,-197295,00.html
- https://theconversation.com/why-economists-are-warning-of-another-us-banking-crisis-224092
- https://www.rbi.org.in/commonman/English/Scripts/DeptofBS.aspx
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/is-my-money-safe-in-the-bank/
- https://www.hsbc.com/terms-and-conditions
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/safest-banks-in-the-us/
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/how-is-the-bank-of-england-independent-of-the-government
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/1266387/leading-banks-risk-weighted-assets-uk/
- https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/list-of-bank-failures
- https://wise.com/en/blog/american-banks-uk
- https://resourcehub.bakermckenzie.com/en/resources/global-financial-services-regulatory-guide/north-america/united-states-of-america/topics/who-regulates-banking-and-financial-services-in-your-jurisdiction
- https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/175/economic-affairs-committee/news/186474/the-bank-of-england-how-is-independence-working-economic-affairs-committee-launches-inquiry/
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/prudential-regulation/new-bank-start-up-unit
- https://register.fca.org.uk/s/unauthorised-firm?id=0014G00002uybPXQAY
- https://www.fscs.org.uk/media/press/2018/sep/10-years-after-failures/
- https://www.federalreserve.gov/supervisionreg.htm
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/transcripts/pounds-and-pence-who-controls-the-value-of-money
- https://www.fca.org.uk/about/what-we-do/the-fca
- https://www.fdic.gov/bank/statistical/index.html
- https://www.icaew.com/insights/viewpoints-on-the-news/2024/feb-2024/economic-update-when-will-the-uk-exit-recession
- https://www.occ.treas.gov/about/index-about.html
- https://www.noradarealestate.com/blog/list-of-failed-banks/
- https://www.eiu.com/n/the-collapse-of-two-us-banks-raises-the-stakes-for-the-fed/
- https://www.gbnews.com/money/bank-branch-closure-2024-full-list
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banking-services
- https://www.barclays.co.uk/important-information/
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/prudential-regulation/authorisations/financial-services-compensation-scheme
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_the_United_Kingdom
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/quarterly-bulletin/2019/how-banks-are-authorised-in-the-uk.pdf
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/about/history
- https://resourcehub.bakermckenzie.com/en/resources/global-financial-services-regulatory-guide/europe-middle-east-and-africa/united-kingdom/topics/who-regulates-banking-and-financial-services-in-your-jurisdiction
- https://search.jobs.barclays/americas
- https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/corporate-documents/our-approach-to-supervision
- https://www.niesr.ac.uk/blog/should-bank-england-lose-its-independence
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/about/human-resources/staff-handbook.pdf
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_Services_Compensation_Scheme
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/financial-stability-report/2023/july-2023
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/boe.asp
- https://www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/news/AN_1711538070461757400/uk-economy-faces-growing-risks-from-global-financial-markets-%E2%80%94-boe.aspx
- https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/15/uk-economy-slipped-into-technical-recession-at-the-end-of-2023.html
- https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/closure-of-high-street-banks-impact-on-local-communities/
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/largest-banks-in-the-us/
- https://guidedimports.com/blog/what-does-fca-mean-incoterms/
- https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-economy-entered-recession-second-half-2023-2024-02-15/
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/news/2023/november/boe-and-fca-mou-on-the-supervision-of-financial-market-infrastructure-and-payment-systems
- https://www.fscs.org.uk/what-we-cover/banks-building-societies/
- https://www.londonpubexplorer.com/back-from-the-dead/the-old-bank-of-england
- https://www.fca.org.uk/about
- https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/governmentpublicsectorandtaxes/publicspending/bulletins/ukgovernmentdebtanddeficitforeurostatmaast/june2023
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-do-banks-do
- https://www.quora.com/Does-the-United-States-have-an-organization-like-the-Financial-Conduct-Authority-in-the-United-Kingdom
- https://www.thebanker.com/What-does-Metro-Bank-s-troubles-mean-for-UK-challenger-banks-1698136247
- https://www.farrer.co.uk/globalassets/brochures/fs_fca-authorised-funds-guide-2022.pdf
- https://www.jpmorgan.com/content/dam/jpm/global/disclosures/us/uk_regulatory_cib.pdf
- https://www.gov.uk/find-licences/registration-with-the-financial-conduct-authority
- https://www.quora.com/Are-all-US-banks-owned-by-the-government-or-were-they-founded-by-someone
- https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/feb/18/to-revive-britain-from-recession-the-next-government-must-get-growth-right
- https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-falls-into-recession/
- https://uk.practicallaw.thomsonreuters.com/6-521-0151?transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)
- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56201331
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/professions-regulated-by-law-in-the-uk-and-their-regulators/uk-regulated-professions-and-their-regulators
- https://www.fdic.gov/resources/resolutions/bank-failures/failed-bank-list/
- https://www.thebanker.com/Does-the-UK-s-deposit-guarantee-scheme-need-reform-1684142697
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/prudential-regulation
- https://www.reeds.co.uk/insight/the-powers-of-the-financial-conduct-authority-fca/
- https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/money-troubles/money-problems-and-complaints/compensation-if-your-bank-or-building-society-goes-bust
- https://www.hsbc.co.uk/savings/is-my-money-safe/
- https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-safe-is-the-bank-of-england/
- https://www.noradarealestate.com/blog/which-banks-are-in-danger-of-failing/
- https://www.exiap.com/guides/how-to-open-bank-account-uk-from-us
- https://www.kotaklife.com/insurance-guide/government-schemes/financial-governing-bodies-in-india
- https://www.expatica.com/uk/finance/banking/guide-to-banking-in-the-uk-291590/
- https://dfpi.ca.gov/about/
- https://www.britannica.com/event/bankruptcy-of-Barings-Bank
- https://smartasset.com/financial-advisor/what-happens-to-interest-rates-during-a-recession
- https://vinciworks.com/blog/what-does-fca-regulated-mean/
- https://www.expertsforexpats.com/expat-resources/british-expats/finance/barclays-and-other-uk-financial-institutions-are-closing-british-expats-accounts/
- https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jun/10/uks-largest-lenders-no-longer-too-big-to-fail-says-bank-of-england
- https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5804/ldselect/ldeconaf/10/1003.htm
- https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/25089896/full-list-bank-branches-closing-2024-lloyds-barclays-affected/
- https://n26.com/en-eu/banking-license
- https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/uk-news/banks-customers-most-risk-fraud-26428933
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-11/global-banks-post-brexit-shift-to-europe-almost-done-ecb-says
- https://www.fscs.org.uk/check/check-your-money-is-protected/cant-find/
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy
- https://www.fscs.org.uk/what-we-cover/
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/king-charles-banknotes
- https://www.americanprogress.org/article/4-things-bank-regulators-can-do-to-help-prevent-bank-failures/
- https://register.fca.org.uk/s/
- https://www.iasplus.com/en-gb/resources/other-regulatory/market-rules/fca
- https://www.fscs.org.uk/making-a-claim/customer-info/financial-protection/
- https://www.thetimes.co.uk/money-mentor/columns-blogs/financial-crisis-bank-collapse-savings-safe
- https://www.andrewisaacs.co.uk/compensation-if-my-bank-goes-bust/
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/financial-conduct-authority-uk-fca.asp
- https://www.finder.com/uk/savings-accounts/the-safest-bank-in-the-uk
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/prudential-regulation/authorisations/which-firms-does-the-pra-regulate
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bank_of_England
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/about/governance-and-funding
- https://www.noradarealestate.com/blog/is-bank-of-america-in-trouble/
- https://kpmg.com/uk/en/home/insights/2018/09/uk-economic-outlook.html
- https://chambers.com/legal-rankings/private-banks-uk-wide-21:2699:11805:1
- https://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutthefed/files/the-fed-explained.pdf
- https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-does-the-bank-of-england-do