FDIC Problem Bank List

By
Will Kenton
Full Bio
Will Kenton is an expert on the economy and investing laws and regulations. He previously held senior editorial roles at Investopedia and Kapitall Wire and holds a MA in Economics from The New School for Social Research and Doctor of Philosophy in English literature from NYU.
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Updated April 07, 2021
Fact checked by Marcus Reeves

What is FDIC Problem Bank List?

FDIC Problem Bank List is a confidential list, published by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) every quarter, of U.S. banks and thrifts that are on the brink of financial insolvency.

Key Takeaways

  • FDIC Problem Bank List is a confidential list, published by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) every quarter, of U.S. banks and thrifts that are on the brink of financial insolvency.
  • Only institutions that are insured by the FDIC through the Deposit Insurance Fund are on the FDIC Problem Bank List.
  • If problems continue with a listed bank, the FDIC takes control of it, before selling it to a stronger bank, or liquidating it and refunding the depositors.

Understanding FDIC Problem Bank List

To make the FDIC problem bank list, a bank must have financial, managerial or operational weaknesses that threaten its continued financial viability. Only institutions that are insured by the FDIC through the Deposit Insurance Fund are on the FDIC Problem Bank List. If problems continue with a listed bank, the FDIC takes control of it, before selling it to a stronger bank, or liquidating it and refunding the depositors.

The criteria to gauge the solvency of the member banks is based on the FDIC's CAMELS rating system. CAMELS is an acronym for:

  • Capital adequacy
  • Asset quality
  • Management
  • Earnings
  • Liquidity
  • Sensitivity

Since making this information public might start runs on banks, the names of the banks are withheld from the list. While the FDIC Problem Bank List is not available to the public, the FDIC does make public how many institutions are on the list as part of its wider banking survey.

The FDIC Problem Bank List includes data for net interest margins, net income, and net trading revenue. It also includes data on lending levels (outstanding loans) and asset quality — such as the level of nonperforming assets, net charge-offs (actual loan losses), and loan loss provisions.

FDIC Problem Bank List and Bank Failures (2001 - 2020)

At the peak of the financial crisis in 2009, there were nearly 900 troubled institutions on the FDIC Problem Bank List. By 2018, this had fallen below 100.

Chart of number and assets of banks on the Problem Bank List.

As expected, there is a strong correlation between the FDIC Problem Bank List and the actual number of bank failures. According to FDIC, a look at bank failures since 2001 shows that the peak was reached in 2010, when 157 FDIC insured banks failed as a result of the 2008 financial crisis. With that number dwindling to 0 by 2018, though it showed a slight uptick to 4 in 2019.

Bank Failures 2001 - 2020
Source: FDIC. Investopedia Author

2023 Bank Failures

On March 10, 2023, the FDIC took control over California-based Silicon Valley Bank and its $212 billion in assets. The bank had suffered a sustained bank run after losing nearly $2 billion on the sale of its Treasury portfolio. Many of the bank's clients were start-ups or tech companies with deposits much higher than the FDIC's insurance limit.

Rather than limit coverage to the $250,000 limit, the FDIC announced that all depositors would be made whole, a message intended to calm the rumors of an oncoming banking panic. A second institution, Signature Bank in New York, was also placed in receivership with the same protections.

What Does the FDIC Insure?

The FDIC, or Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, provides insurance on bank deposits in the event of bank failure. The funds for this insurance are provided by member banks, which pay into a special insurance pool.

How Much Does the FDIC Insure?

Bank deposits at FDIC-insured institutions are guaranteed up to at least $250,000 at each institution. Note that this protection is per person, not per account. If a single person has multiple accounts at the same bank, they will only receive up to $250,000 in guaranteed deposit insurance.

What Happens if a Bank Goes Bankrup?

If an FDIC-insured bank fails, the FDIC will place that institution in receivership and take control of its assets. Deposits are guaranteed up to $250,000 per customer, but uninsured deposits may be recouped through the liquidation of the bank's assets. The FDIC may also choose to extend deposit protection beyond the $250,000 limit, as it did in 2023 with the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.

The Bottom Line

The FDIC Problem Bank List is used to keep track of depositary institutions at high risk of insolvency. This is based on criteria like the quality of the bank's assets, capital adequacy, and the strength of its management team. Although the banks on the list are confidential, the FDIC does publish the number of banks on the list and the size of their assets.

Article Sources
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  1. Comptroller of the Currency Administrator of National Banks. "An Examiner's Guide to Problem Bank Identification, Rehabilitation, and Resolution," Pages 1-3.

  2. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. "Deposit Insurance Assessments."

  3. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. "Crisis and Response: An FDIC History, 2008­–2013," Page xxxix. Accessed April 7, 2021.

  4. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. "Supervision."

  5. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. "Bank Failures in Brief – Summary 2001 through 2020."