More than 400 banks have failed since 2009. In nearly every case, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has played a critical role in the successful resolution of the failed institutions. If the FDIC cannot facilitate the sale of a failed bank to a healthy bank, the FDIC promptly pays the failed institution’s depositors the full amount of their insured deposits. Depositors’ ability to rely on the FDIC for protection provides financial stability and maintains confidence in the U.S. banking system.