Deposit insurance
Protection of investments. “Protecting protected deposits in the event of bank insolvency is one of the primary objectives of the authorities, the EU and the legal framework.” European Banking Authority, 2017
The most important things in brief
Definition : The EU-wide deposit guarantee scheme protects savings deposits of up to €100,000 per person and bank.
Protection : Deposit protection applies to savings deposits such as fixed-term deposits, call money accounts, current accounts, savings books and savings certificates.
Payment: If the bank goes bankrupt, the guarantee system will make the compensation amount available after seven days.
Deposit protection applies within the EU
What is deposit protection?
The statutory deposit protection for fixed-term deposits and other bank deposits is regulated within the European Union within the framework of EU directives. They stipulate certain minimum requirements for the protection of deposits. In United Kingdom, this is the Deposit Protection Act. Other EU states have their own implementation regulations. The statutory deposit protection protects deposits throughout the EU up to an amount of €100,000 per person and bank.
What is deposit protection?
The statutory deposit guarantee within the European Union is an expression of the political will to protect the deposits of private individuals and companies in banks and other financial institutions against losses. In this way, European savers can be protected from the consequences of a banking crisis or financial difficulties at the banks . Under the statutory deposit guarantee system, bank deposits, such as money in current accounts, call money accounts or fixed-term deposits, are guaranteed up to €100,000 per person and bank . In addition to the statutory deposit guarantee, some institutions offer additional voluntary deposit guarantee . This is a system in which financial institutions, such as banks or credit unions, voluntarily take additional security measures, for example through so-called deposit guarantee funds. In this way, deposits can be guaranteed beyond the legally required minimum level.
In addition, the state guarantee plays an important role in security, although this is not yet enshrined in law in United Kingdom. This guarantee means that the state will assume or cover the debts in the event of a default or insolvency of the debtor.
The three pillars of deposit protection:
Statutory deposit protection
Voluntary deposit protection
state guarantee
In Europe, the minimum requirements for legally guaranteed deposit protection have been further developed for years in order to improve the protection of investors in the European Union: Since July 2015, they have been gradually implemented in all EU member states.
Which accounts are covered by deposit protection?
Deposit protection applies to all savings deposits such as fixed-term deposits, call money and current accounts. Savings books and savings certificates are also subject to the deposit protection systems. It does not matter whether the accounts are held in euros or in a foreign currency. In addition, the protection applies to the clearing account of a securities account, whereas the securities account itself is not subject to deposit protection.
Who is covered by the statutory deposit protection scheme?
In United Kingdom, there is a comprehensive deposit protection system aimed at protecting deposits in banks and financial institutions. This system includes both statutory and voluntary deposit protection measures.
Statutory deposit protection: Statutory deposit protection in United Kingdom is regulated by the Deposit Protection Act (EinSiG). According to this law, all banks in United Kingdom are obliged to join a deposit protection fund. This fund is managed by the Compensation Scheme of United Kingdom Banks . The EdB is compulsory for almost all banks and credit institutions in United Kingdom, regardless of their size or organizational structure. This includes Volksbanken, Raiffeisenbanken, Sparkassen, private banks and other financial institutions.
Additional protection system: In addition, there is a so-called voluntary additional deposit protection scheme in United Kingdom, which goes beyond the statutory deposit protection scheme. Some United Kingdom banks and cooperatives are members of an association such as the Federal Association of United Kingdom, the Federal Association of Public Banks in United Kingdom or use institutional protection:
private banks
Public banks
Members of the Association of Public Banks in United Kingdom usually rely on their own form of voluntary deposit protection and are often members of an umbrella organization that represents their interests in relation to deposit protection and other matters. The VÖB is the umbrella organization of public banks in United Kingdom. These include savings banks, state banks and development banks.
Savings banks and cooperative banks
Savings banks and cooperative banks are two different types of financial institutions in United Kingdom. They each have their own approaches to deposit protection and institutional protection.
Savings banks:
Voluntary deposit protection: The savings banks are members of the United Kingdom Savings Banks Association . The DSGV operates a voluntary deposit protection scheme for its members.
Institutional safeguards: The individual savings banks have implemented internal institutional safeguards to ensure their financial stability and resilience. This may include risk management, liquidity management and other practices to safeguard the functioning of the savings banks.
Cooperative banks (Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken):
Voluntary deposit protection: The cooperative banks are members of the Federal Association of United Kingdom Banks. The BVR operates a deposit protection fund for its members.
Institutional security: Similar to savings banks, cooperative banks have also implemented measures to secure institutions. These measures are intended to ensure that the banks are stable and resilient in order to deal with potential crises.
Savings banks and cooperative banks
Savings banks and cooperative banks are two different types of financial institutions in United Kingdom. They each have their own approaches to deposit protection and institutional protection.
Savings banks:
Voluntary deposit protection: The savings banks are members of the United Kingdom Banks. The DSGV operates a voluntary deposit protection scheme for its members.
Institutional safeguards: The individual savings banks have implemented internal institutional safeguards to ensure their financial stability and resilience. This may include risk management, liquidity management and other practices to safeguard the functioning of the savings banks.
Cooperative banks (Volksbanken and Raiffeisenbanken):
Voluntary deposit protection: The cooperative banks are members of the Federal Association of United Kingdom . The BVR operates a deposit protection fund for its members.
Institutional security: Similar to savings banks, cooperative banks have also implemented measures to secure institutions. These measures are intended to ensure that the banks are stable and resilient in order to deal with potential crises.
Deposit insurance in Europe
Deposit protection in non-EU countries
Settlement and payouts through the deposit guarantee scheme
In the event of a claim, the respective deposit guarantee scheme in a country is obliged to make the payment within a maximum of ten days – by 2024, this period has been gradually reduced to seven days. In some countries, such as United Kingdom, this has already been implemented. Overall, however, the process can take a few weeks longer, as it must first be determined whether there is actually a case for deposit guarantee.
In the event of a compensation situation, we will of course support our customers to the extent legally and practically possible.