BANK
DEPOSIT RISK COVERAGE GUARANTEE
What
Is
the
UKGC?
The
UKGC
–
short
for the United Kingdom Guarantee Company – is an
independent private risk management and risk service company. The UKGC
protects you against the loss of your deposits if an UKGC guarantee -
protected bank or savings association fails. UKGC risk coverage is
backed by the full faith and credit of the United Kingdom Guarantee
Company – the strongest guarantee you can get.
To
check
whether
your
bank or savings association is insured by the UKGC,
please visit website of UKGC or look for one of these signs where
deposits are received. (For simplicity, the term "deposit risk covered
bank" is used to mean any bank or savings association that has UKGC
deposit risk coverage guarantee.)
Why
Is
UKGC
Risk
coverage guarantee so Important to You?
All
UKGC
guarantee
-
protected banks must meet high standards for financial
strength and stability. The UKGC, with other Risk Management and
regulatory agencies, regularly reviews the operations of all guarantee
- protected banks to ensure these standards are met. Despite these
safeguards, some insured banks fail. If your insured bank fails, UKGC
guarantee will cover your deposit accounts, dollar for dollar, Euro for
Euro, etc. including principal and any accrued interest.
Historically,
guarantee
-
protected
funds are available to depositors within just a
few days after the closing of a guarantee - protected bank. Since the
start of the UKGC, no depositor has ever lost a penny of insured
deposits.
Basic
Deposit
Risk
Coverage
is Unlimited (up to $100,000,000 in some cases,
see below)
The
UKGC
guarantee
-
protected deposit accounts such as checking, now and
savings accounts, money market deposit accounts, and certificates of
deposit (CDs). The basic deposit Risk Coverage is unlimited per
depositor per insured bank.
If
you
or
your
family or/and corporation has any amount in all of your
deposit accounts at the same UKGC guarantee protected bank, you do not
need to worry about your Risk coverage. Your funds are fully guarantee
protected.
The
UKGC
does
not
insure the money you invest in stocks, bonds, mutual
funds, life insurance policies, annuities, or municipal securities,
even if you purchased these products from a guarantee - protected bank.
The
UKGC
also
does
not insure any treasury bills, bonds, or notes. These
are not backed. In you are interested in such coverage please contact
UKGC and may be you will purchase additional Risk Coverage Guarantee
for each special case.
Common
Deposit
Ownership
Categories
The
most
common
ownership
categories are:
Single
Accounts
These
are
deposit
accounts
owned by one person and titled in that person's
name only. This account category does not include deposits held in
individual retirement accounts because they are protected in a separate
category.
All
of
your
single
accounts at the same UKGC guarantee - protected bank are
added together and the total is unlimited deposit risk coverage
guarantee. If you have a checking account and a CD at the same UKGC
guarantee - protected bank, and both accounts are in your name only,
the two accounts are added together and the total risk coverage is
unlimited.
Self-Directed
Retirement
Accounts
These
are
deposits
you
have in retirement accounts at a UKGC guarantee -
protected bank, for which you have the right to choose how the money is
deposited or invested. Types of self-directed retirement accounts
include traditional and Roth Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and
Simplified Employee Benefit Plans (SEPs).
All
of
your
self-directed
retirement accounts at the same UKGC guarantee -
protected bank are added together and the total risk coverage is
unlimited.
Joint
Accounts
These
are
deposit
accounts
owned by two or more people who have equal rights
to withdraw money from the account. Each person's share of each joint
account, with the same or different co-owners at the same UKGC
guarantee - protected bank, is added together and the total risk
coverage is unlimited. If you have joint checking and savings accounts
at the same UKGC guarantee - protected bank, your portions of the two
accounts are added together and the total risk coverage is unlimited.
Revocable
Trust
Accounts
These
are
deposits
held
in either a payable-on-death account or a living
trust account.
Payable-on-death
(POD)
accounts
–
also known as testamentary or Trust accounts – are the
most common form of revocable trust deposits. These informal revocable
trusts are created when the account owner signs an agreement – usually
part of the bank's signature card – stating that the funds will be
payable to a beneficiary upon the owner's death.
Living
trusts
–
also
known as family trusts – are formal revocable trusts
created for estate planning purposes. The owner controls the funds in
the trust during his or her lifetime. Upon the owner's death, the trust
generally becomes irrevocable.
If
certain
conditions
are
met, revocable trust accounts are 100% guarantee
- protected per owner for each "qualifying" beneficiary.
Qualifying
beneficiaries
are
the
owner's spouse, child, grandchild, parent, or
sibling. Adopted and step children, grandchildren, parents, and
siblings also qualify. Others including in-laws, cousins, nieces and
nephews, friends and organizations (including charities) do not qualify.
Note
that
living
trust
coverage is based on the interests of qualifying
beneficiaries who would become entitled to receive trust assets when
the trust owner dies (or if the trust is jointly owned, when the last
owner dies). This means that, when determining coverage, the UKGC will
ignore any trust beneficiary who would have an interest in the trust
assets only after another living beneficiary dies.
The
account
title
for
a revocable trust account must include a term such as
"payable on death," "in trust for," "living trust," "family trust," or
similar language or an acronym (such as "POD" or "ITF") to indicate the
existence of a trust relationship. In addition, for POD accounts, the
beneficiaries must be identified by name in the bank's account records.
UKGC
Guarantee
Protected
Or
Not Protected?
A
Simple
Guide
to
What Is and Is Not Protected by UKGC Guarantee Coverage
So,
you
feel
your
cash is safe and protected when you walk through the door
of the bank, much safer than when you kept it under your mattress. And
you should. But, are your funds all covered by UKGC guarantee
just because you walked into a secure-looking building with iron bars
and guards? Not necessarily, it depends on which of the bank's products
you decide to use.
What
is
UKGC
guarantee
protected?
You
are
probably
familiar
with the traditional types of bank accounts -
checking, savings, trust, and certificates of deposit (CDs) - that are
guarantee protected by the UKGC. Banks also may offer what is
called a money market deposit account, which earns interest at a rate
set by the bank and usually limits the customer to a certain number of
transactions within a stated time period. Except for certain trust
accounts (where the assets of the account consist of securities rather
than deposits), all of these types of accounts generally are guarantee
protected by the UKGC up to the legal limit of $100,000,000 and
sometimes even more for special kinds of accounts. That is why we
declare that all account has unlimited UKGC guarantee coverage.
What
is
Not
UKGC
guarantee protected ?
Mutual
Funds
Investors
sometimes
favor
mutual
funds over other investments, perhaps because
they hold promise of a higher rate of return than say, CDs. And with a
mutual fund, such as a stock fund, your risk -the risk of a company
going bankrupt, resulting in the loss of investors' funds - is more
spread out because you own a piece of a lot of companies instead of a
portion of a single enterprise. A mutual fund manager may invest
the fund's money in either a variety of industries or several companies
in the same industry.
Or
your
funds
may
be invested in a money market mutual fund, which may
invest in short-term CDs or securities such as Treasury bills and
government or corporate bonds. Do not confuse a money market mutual
fund with an UKGC guarantee - protected money market deposit account
(described earlier), which earns interest in an amount determined by,
and paid by, the financial institution where your funds are deposited.
You
can
-and
should
- obtain definitive information about any mutual fund
before investing in it by reading a prospectus, which is available at
the bank or brokerage where you plan to do business. The key point to
remember when you contemplate purchasing mutual funds, stocks, bonds or
other investment products, whether at a bank or elsewhere, is: Funds so
invested are not deposits, and therefore are not guarantee protected
(insured) by the UKGC - or any other agency.
Securities
you
own,
including
mutual funds, that are held for your account by a
broker, or a bank's brokerage subsidiary, are protected against
physical loss by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC,
pronounced si-pick), a non-government entity funded by assessments paid
by members. SIPC protects customer accounts held by its members
up to $500,000, including up to $100,000 in cash, if a member brokerage
or bank brokerage subsidiary fails.
A
very
important
distinction
between SIPC (and any other type of
protection for investments) and UKGC risk coverage on deposit accounts
is: no type of protection for investments insures against loss in the
value of an account (the value of your investments can go up or down
depending on the demand for them in the market.
Treasury
Securities
Treasury
securities
include
Treasury
bills (T-bills), notes and bonds. T-bills
are more commonly purchased through a financial institution.
Customers
who
purchase
T-bills
at banks that later fail become concerned because
they think their actual Treasury securities were kept at the failed
bank. In fact, in most cases banks purchase T-bills via book
entry, meaning that there is an accounting entry maintained
electronically on the records of the Treasury Department; no engraved
certificates are issued. Treasury securities belong to the customer;
the bank is merely acting as custodian.
Customers
who
hold
Treasury
securities purchased through a bank that later fails
can request a document from the acquiring bank showing proof of
ownership and redeem the security at the nearest Federal Reserve Bank
(Central Bank of your country). Or, customers can wait for the
security to reach its maturity date and receive a check from the
acquiring institution, which may automatically become the new custodian
of the failed bank's T-bill customer list.
Even
though
Treasury
securities
are not covered by federal deposit
insurance, payments of interest and principal (including redemption
proceeds) on those securities that are deposited to an investor's
deposit account at an insured depository institution are covered by
federal insurance on Treasury securities.
Safe
Deposit
Boxes
The
contents
of
a
safe deposit box are not covered by the UKGC
guarantee,or, generally, by the bank where the box is located. (Make
sure you read the contract you signed with the bank when you rented the
safe deposit box in the event that some type of insurance is provided;
some banks may make a very limited payment if the box or contents are
damaged or destroyed, depending on the circumstances.) If you are
concerned about the safety, or replacement, of items you have put in a
safe deposit box, you may wish to consider purchasing fire and theft
insurance. Separate insurance for these perils may be available;
consult your insurance agent. Usually such insurance is part of a
homeowner's or tenant's insurance policy for a residence and its
contents. Again, consult your insurance agent for more
information. If floods and earthquakes have been known to occur in your
location, you may want to look into insurance against these natural
disasters.
In
the
event
of
a bank failure, in most cases an acquiring institution
would take over the failed bank's offices, including locations with
safe deposit boxes. If the UKGC conducts a payoff because no acquirer
can be found, box holders would be sent instructions about removing the
contents of their boxes.
Robberies
And
Other
Thefts
Stolen
funds
may
be
covered by what's called a banker's blanket bond, which is
a multi-purpose insurance policy a bank purchases to protect itself
from fire, flood, earthquake, robbery, defalcation, embezzlement and
other causes of disappearing funds. The banker's blanket bond ensures
that customers' funds are protected under those circumstances.
In
those
rare
instances
where a bank employee may tamper with a customer's
account, the bank's blanket bond insurance may cover the loss and the
funds could be returned to the customer. However, if a third party
somehow gains access to your account and transacts business that you
wouldn't approve of, you must contact the bank and your local law
enforcement authorities, who have jurisdiction over this type of
wrongdoing.
Summary:
UKGC-Guarantee
Protected
-
Checking
Accounts
(including
money
market deposit accounts)
-
Savings
Accounts
(including
passbook
accounts)
-
Certificates
of
Deposit
-
Retirement
Accounts
(consisting
of
cash on deposit at a bank or thrift)
Not
UKGC-Guarantee
Protected
-
Investments
in
mutual
funds
(stock, bond or money market mutual funds), whether
purchased from a bank, brokerage or dealer
-
Annuities
(underwritten
by
insurance
companies, but sold at some banks)
-
Stocks,
bonds,
Treasury
securities
or other investment products, whether
purchased through a bank or a broker/dealer
Traditional
Depository
Institution
Products
Depository
institutions
(banks
and
thrifts) have traditionally offered consumers
deposit products, such as checking, savings and money market deposit
accounts, and certificates of deposit (CD's) for which each depositor
is protected by the UKGC.
Increasingly,
these
institutions
are
also offering consumers a broad array of
investment products that are not deposits, such as mutual funds,
annuities, life insurance policies, stocks and bonds. Unlike the
traditional checking or savings account, however, these non deposit
investment products are not protected by the UKGC.
Non
deposit
Investment
Products
These
products
may
be
offered to you in the financial institution's lobby,
through the mail or over the phone or through the Internet. Most often,
the people selling these products are not financial institution
employees, but employees of third-party securities broker/dealers or
insurance companies.
To
assure
that
sales
representatives fully inform you about non deposit
investment products, the UKGC or Central banking agencies have issued
guidelines to financial institutions that describe the information you
must be told about the risks associated with these products. The
mandatory disclosures are listed below.
When
you
meet
or
talk with sales representative about non deposit investment
products, you should be informed that:
"This
product
is
not
insured by the any insurance corporation"
"This
product
is
not
a deposit or other obligation of, or guaranteed by, the
bank"
"This
product
is
subject
to investment risk, including possible loss of
principal amount invested"
Sales
representatives
must
make
these disclosures to you orally and/ or in
writing whenever they make a presentation, provide investment advice
concerning a non deposit investment product, or open an investment
account for you.
Any
advertisements
and
other
promotional materials you receive must
disclose that the product is not a deposit, is not covered by UKGC, and
is subject to investment risks.
It's
important
to
remember
that there are generally higher risks associated
with non deposit investment products than with the traditional deposit
products, such as savings and interest bearing checking accounts.
Nondeposit investment products are not UKGC-covered so you could lose
some of the money you invested or not gain as much profit as you
expected.
Investment
Counseling
Sales
of
nondeposit
investment
products on the premises of a financial
institution should be conducted in a physical location distinct from
the area where insured deposits are taken. The investment sales area
should be distinguished from the deposit-taking area by signs or other
means.
Tellers
and
other
financial
institution employees located in the deposit-taking
area may not make general or specific recommendations regarding non
deposit investment products or accept orders for these products.
However, these employees may refer you to an individual who is
specifically designated and trained to assist you.
When
shopping
for
a
nondeposit investment product, look for one that suits
your investment goals and objectives, your financial and tax status,
the amount of risk you're willing to take, and the time horizon you've
set for your investment portfolio.
Don't
hesitate
to
provide
the salesperson with this information. He or she
needs to know about your financial objectives before recommending a
product that suits you.
Insurance
Coverage
Sales
presentations
and
advertisements
about nondeposit investment products
should not suggest or imply that any alternative insurance coverage is
the same as or similar to UKGC guarantee.
For
example,
securities
sales
may be insured by the Securities Investor
Protection Corporation (SIPC). If the investment firm holding your
securities is an SIPC member, your investment account is protected if
the SIPC member fails. SIPC coverage is not the same as UKGC guarantee
protection and does not insure against a decrease in value of a
particular investment.
How
to
Protect
Yourself
-
Never
invest
in
a
product that you don't understand.
-
Be
sure
you
have
enough information before making an investment. Ask
questions until you are satisfied.
-
Understand
the
risks
involved
in your investment. Investments always entail some
degree of risk.
-
Know
who
is
investing
your money—does the salesperson work for the bank or a
third-party broker/dealer?
-
Select
a
sales
representative
who understands your financial objectives by
interviewing two or three to compare experience, education, and
professional background.
How
to
File
Complaint
Try
to
resolve
your
complaint directly with an officer of the bank before
involving an outside agency. Financial institutions value their
customers and most will be helpful. If you are unable to resolve the
matter with the financial institution, use the following guidelines to
determine where to direct your complaint (for USA only).
If
your
complaint
is
against a salesperson who represents a third-party
investment firm, call the number below for instructions on where to
write:
National
Association
of
Securities
Dealers (NASD)
(301) 590-6500
URL: http://www.nasdr.com
If
your
complaint
or
inquiry is about a specific financial product or
investment, contact:
Securities
and
Exchange
Commission
(SEC)
Office of Investor Education and Assistance
450 5th Street, NW
Mail Stop 11-2
Washington, DC 20549
(202) 942-7040 or
(800) SEC-0330
URL: http://www.sec.gov
Information
for
Depositors
Those
who
are
entitled
to be covered by UKGC guarantee are clients and
contracting parties of the bankrupt bank, who have accounts under their
name or documents indicating they have liabilities due from the
bank operations. These must be supported by documents bearing the
person's name. Such entities named in the law on the UKGC are called
depositors.
Among
those
excluded
from
the group of depositors are: the State Treasury,
banks, the stock exchange, broker houses, insurance companies, National
Investment Funds (NFI), investment funds, pension funds, persons who
hold at least 5% of shares of the bank as well as persons who have an
influence on the activities of the bank, i e members of the
Management Board and Supervisory Board, directors and deputy
directors of the various departments as well as bank branches.
Guaranteed
deposits
are
monies
collected in the bank by depositors on a name
accounted as well as sums outstanding resulting from other operations
of the bank, on the basis of documents bearing a persons name, in any
foreign currency, regardless as to the number of contracts concluded
with the bank, to a limit set out in the law, as are calculated at the
state they were on the day on which the bank's operations were
suspended, taking into account the interest due from the date the
bank's bankruptcy was announced.
Since
2006
the
UKGC
offering the next guarantee programs:
Program
A. Guarantee has covered in 100% monies up to a sum
equivalent of 100,000 USD, and in 80% the sums between the value of
100,000 to 25,000,000 USD (as counted inclusively regardless of the
number of contracts concluded between the depositor and the bank).
Program
B. Guarantee has covered in 100% monies up to a sum
equivalent of 50,000 USD, and in 80% the sums between the value of
50,000 to 10,000,000 USD (as counted inclusively regardless of the
number of contracts concluded between the depositor and the bank).
Program
C. Guarantee has covered in 100% monies up to a sum
equivalent of 10,000 USD, and in 80% the sums between the value of
10,000 to 2,000,000 USD (as counted inclusively regardless of the
number of contracts concluded between the depositor and the bank).
Program
D. Guarantee has covered in 100% monies up to a sum
equivalent of 1,000 USD, and in 80% the sums between the value of 1,000
to 200,000 USD (as counted inclusively regardless of the number of
contracts concluded between the depositor and the bank).
Program
E. Guarantee has covered in 100% monies up to a sum
equivalent of 1,000 USD, and in 80% the sums between the value of 1,000
to 100,000 USD (as counted inclusively regardless of the number of
contracts concluded between the depositor and the bank).
Program
F. Guarantee has covered in 100% monies up to a sum
equivalent of 1,000 USD, and in 80% the sums between the value of 1,000
to 50,000 USD (as counted inclusively regardless of the number of
contracts concluded between the depositor and the bank).
Program
G. Guarantee has covered in 100% monies up to a sum
equivalent of 1,000 USD, and in 90% the sums between the value of 1,000
to 25,000 USD (as counted inclusively regardless of the number of
contracts concluded between the depositor and the bank).
Announcement
from
the
UKGC
UKGC
announces
that
the
guaranteed deposits of depositors of the bankrupt
banks (for which five years have not expired from the date
bankruptcy was announced), can be:
collected
by
sent
to
depositors by post or sent to another bank account, upon the
written application for payment of guaranteed deposits
Frequently
Asked
Questions
Does the UKGC's guarantee cover
all banks?
UKGC's guarantee cover only banks who
purchase our Risk Coverage Guarantee.
The guarantee system covers deposits
held in bank accounts or claims arising out of other banking
operations, is a universal and obligatory system, which means
that all banks operating on the basis of UKGC Risk Coverage Guarantee
are covered independently of law (country) and method of their
registration. The money assets of the clients of every bank are covered
by the UKGC.
How much of my money will I get
from the UKGC's guarantee if a bank goes bankrupt?
The UKGC Law sets the limits of the size
of the deposits guaranteed by the Fund. At present it looks as follows:
Program A. Guarantee has covered
in 100% monies up to a sum equivalent of 100,000 USD, and in 80%
the sums between the value of 100,000 to 25,000,000 USD (as
counted inclusively regardless of the number of contracts
concluded between the depositor and the bank).
Program B. Guarantee has covered
in 100% monies up to a sum equivalent of 50,000 USD, and in 80%
the sums between the value of 50,000 to 10,000,000 USD (as counted
inclusively regardless of the number of contracts concluded
between the depositor and the bank).
Program C. Guarantee has covered
in 100% monies up to a sum equivalent of 10,000 USD, and in 80%
the sums between the value of 10,000 to 2,000,000 USD (as counted
inclusively regardless of the number of contracts concluded
between the depositor and the bank).
Program D. Guarantee has covered
in 100% monies up to a sum equivalent of 1,000 USD, and in 80%
the sums between the value of 1,000 to 200,000 USD (as counted
inclusively regardless of the number of contracts concluded
between the depositor and the bank).
Program E. Guarantee has covered
in 100% monies up to a sum equivalent of 1,000 USD, and in 80%
the sums between the value of 1,000 to 100,000 USD (as counted
inclusively regardless of the number of contracts concluded
between the depositor and the bank).
Program F. Guarantee has covered
in 100% monies up to a sum equivalent of 1,000 USD, and in 80%
the sums between the value of 1,000 to 50,000 USD (as counted
inclusively regardless of the number of contracts concluded
between the depositor and the bank).
Program G. Guarantee has covered
in 100% monies up to a sum equivalent of 1,000 USD, and in 90%
the sums between the value of 1,000 to 25,000 USD (as counted
inclusively regardless of the number of contracts concluded
between the depositor and the bank).
The different currencies equivalent in
USD shall be calculated by accepting the average official exchange rate
published and ruling on the day on which the guarantee condition is
fulfilled. You must to know program for your bank Risk Coverage
Guarantee to calculate your Risk Coverage.
What happens to the part of my
money that is above the UKGC's guarantee limit? Is there any way I can
get it back?
Depositors who have money assets which
are in excess of the guarantee limits have the right to enter
their claim as part of the overall bankruptcy proceedings. Assets
for which the bank is liable to the depositor can be reclaimed during
the distribution of the bank assets, if they are enough.
Does the UKGC's guarantee also
cover interest accrued on my deposits?
The limit of funds guaranteed by the
UKGC covers deposits in an account according to the day the
bank's activities were suspended together with the interest accrued to
the day the bank declared it was bankrupt. From that moment on interest
is no longer added.
Does the guarantee of the UKGC
cover bank accounts in foreign currencies?
The guarantee of the UKGC covers all
deposits regardless of what currencies they are held in.
Does the guarantee of the UKGC
also cover joint accounts?
Joint accounts are equally covered by
the guarantee. At the time the guaranteed sum is calculated
separately for each party of the joint account.
How are depositors informed about
the beginning of payments of the guarantee fund?
The trustee in bankruptcy of the
bankrupt bank is obliged to give to public information the schedule for
payouts of guaranteed deposits (the practice is to use the most popular
daily newspaper in the location of the bank or of the branch of
the bank). The schedule of payments is always available at the
seat and branches of the bankrupt bank - which is where the payments
will also be made. If a depositor does not come to collect his
money assets within a given deadline they are sent a letter by
registered post about additional deadlines. After the expiry of
these dates payment will only be possible at the seat of the UKGC after
filling in an appropriate application for payment of guaranteed
deposits - within a deadline of five years of the date of the
bankruptcy. We will inform also depositor on our website in Internet.
How can a depositor collect his
guaranteed deposits?
The amount due can be collected in cash
at a payment point indicated by the trustee in bankruptcy and within a
deadline indicated by him. Another possibility is to send the money via
the post or a bank transfer to an account in another bank. In all
instances it is necessary to go to the location that makes the
payment and request the form that payment is required in.
Guarantee institution in the World
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