List of bank failures: A comprehensive list of every bank collapse since 2000 – 2026

The past couple of years have been wild for bank failures. The beginning of 2023 saw Silicon Valley, Signature, First Republic go under, followed by Heartland Tri-State Bank and Citizen Bank collapse with assets totaling $548.7 billion. To put that in context, during the financial crisis in 2008, the collapse of 25 banks only added up to $372.6 billion (in 2008 dollars).

Bank failures in the US at a glance

Year with the most costly bank failures: 2000-2026

In 2023, the Federal Deposit Insurance Commission (FDIC) stepped in to take over five banks with a combined $549 billion in total assets — the largest year on record since 2000. 2023 is followed by 2008 ($373 billion), 2009 ($170 billion), 2011 ($147 billion) and 2010 ($92 billion).

Adjusting for inflation

Even factoring in inflation, 2023 ($580 billion) was the worst year for bank collapses since 2000, beating out 2008’s adjusted $557 billion.

Year with the most bank failures: 2000-2026

However, 2023 did all this damage with just four banks going under. Comparatively, 2008 (the year with the second highest dollar value in collapsed banks) saw eight banks collapse, and 2010 saw 157 banks go under — the highest number of bank failures since 2000.

Average value of a collapsing bank

Looking at how bad these bank collapses were on average, the average bank going under in 2023 is just $274.55 million million compared to $110 billion in assets in 2023, and the next most of $15 billion in 2008.

Cost of bank failures: by decade

With 2023 being the worst year on record, it makes sense that the 2020s is the worst decade on record with banks going under with $556 billion in total assets beating out the 2000s and the Great Financial Crisis (GFC) where banks collapsed with $553 billion in assets.
However, if we adjust for inflation, the 2000s saw the equivalent of $829 billion wiped out by bank collapses.

Number of failed banks: by decade

While the 2000s may have been the decade with the most assets wiped out in bank collapses, the 2010s actually saw the most collapses at 367, almost twice as much as the 2000s and about 24 times the number of banks that have collapsed since the start to this decade (15).

State with the most bank collapses

Since 2000, Georgia has seen 94 of its banks go under, accounting for a little over 16% of all bank failures. It is closely followed by Florida with 76 bank failures (13%) and Illinois at 71 (12%).

States with the highest valued bank collapses since 2000

California is home to the most expensive bank failures, with banks going under holding a combined $544.9 billion in assents since the year 2000. It is trailed by Nevada ($315.7 billion) and Colorado ($118.6 billion).

Bank failures 2026

January saw its first collapse with Illinois-based Metropolitan Capital Bank & Trust being shuttered with $261.1 million in assets.

Failed bank list

Below is a complete list of all bank failures since 2000.

Frequently asked questions

• What causes a bank to fail?

  Most bank failures come down to bad loans, poor risk management, devastating changes to the micro/economic environment or a sudden run on deposits that the bank can't cover. When a bank can't meet its obligations to depositors or creditors, regulators step in to shut it down.

• What happens to my money if my bank fails?

  If your bank is FDIC-insured, deposits up to $250,000 per depositor, per ownership category are protected. The FDIC typically transfers accounts to another bank within a few business days, and you keep access to your money.

• How much does the FDIC insure?

  The FDIC insures up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category. Joint accounts, retirement accounts and trust accounts can each qualify for their own $250,000 coverage limit.

• Are credit unions covered if they fail?

  Yes. Credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) rather than the FDIC, but coverage works the same way, up to $250,000 per member, per ownership category.

• What's the difference between a bank failure and a bank closure?

  A bank failure happens when regulators shut down a bank because it can no longer meet its financial obligations. A closure can simply mean a bank is winding down operations, merging or closing branches, without being insolvent.

• Who takes over a failed bank?

  The FDIC steps in as receiver and usually sells the failed bank's deposits and assets to a healthy bank. In rare cases, the FDIC pays insured depositors directly if no buyer is found.

• Will I lose money if my bank fails?

  If your balances are within FDIC limits, no. Money above the insurance cap may or may not be recovered, depending on how much the FDIC can recoup from selling the failed bank's assets.

• How can I tell if my bank is FDIC-insured?

  Look for the FDIC logo at your bank or check the FDIC BankFind tool. All FDIC-insured banks are required to display their status clearly.

• Can I have more than $250,000 protected at one bank?

  Yes. You can exceed the $250,000 limit at a single bank by spreading funds across different ownership categories, for example, an individual account, a joint account and a retirement account each get their own coverage.

• How long does it take to access my money after a bank fails?

  Most depositors regain access within one to two business days. The FDIC typically reopens accounts under the acquiring bank by the next business day after closure.

• What was the fallout from the 2008 financial crisis?

  The collapse of the housing market and toxic mortgage-backed securities triggered the worst banking crisis since the Great Depression. Nearly 500 banks failed between 2008 and 2013, headlined by Washington Mutual still the largest bank failure in US history. Congress responded with the Dodd-Frank Act in 2010, which introduced stricter capital requirements, stress tests for large banks and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

• What banks collapsed after Silicon Valley Bank?

  SVB's failure on March 10, 2023 set off a chain reaction. Signature Bank was shut down two days later as nervous depositors pulled funds from regional lenders, and First Republic Bank followed on May 1 after a $30 billion deposit injection from larger banks failed to stop the bleeding. JPMorgan Chase ultimately acquired First Republic's deposits, ending the springtime crisis.

• Methodology

  Finder reviewed the list of failed banks from the FDIC, grouping them into the decades listed above and adjusting for inflation where applicable.

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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Richard Laycock

Editorial & PR Lead

Richard Laycock is Finder’s NYC-based lead editor & insights editor, spending the last decade data diving, writing and editing articles about all things personal finance. His musings can be found across the web including on NASDAQ, MoneyMag, Yahoo Finance and Travel Weekly. Richard studied Media at Macquarie University, including a semester abroad at The Missouri School of Journalism (MIZZOU). See full bio