We hardly ever pause to consider what the balance listed on our bank statements actually signifies. For the majority of individuals, the bank balance typically denotes the amount of liquid funds that are readily accessible for withdrawal and expenditure. The notion of a banknote as an IOU that is subject to legal and regulatory oversight, and can be redeemed upon demand, is a concept that is often overlooked. Infrequently do we contemplate the possibility of the bank’s inability to fulfill the IOU. The recent financial failure of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank has prompted us to contemplate the possibility that the balance reflected on our bank statements may not always correspond with the actual amount of cash available to us. When the balance amount is less than $250,000, the safety concerns are relatively lower. This is due to the efficient functioning of the FDIC in intervening with failing banks and ensuring prompt availability of insured balances. Nevertheless, the insura...