Regulators unveil plan to assure depositors will get money after SVB collapse

cnbc.com:

Banking regulators devised a plan Sunday to shore up deposits at Silicon Valley Bank, a critical step in stemming a feared panic over the collapsed tech-focused institution.

In an anxiously awaited announcement from the Federal Reserve, the central bank said it is creating a new Bank Term Funding Program aimed at safeguarding institutions impacted by the SVB failure. In addition, regulators said depositors at both SVB and Signature Bank in New York, which also has been closed, will have full access to their deposits.

A joint statement also said there would be no bailouts and no taxpayer costs associated with any of the new plans.

«Today we are taking decisive actions to protect the U.S. economy by strengthening public confidence in our banking system,» said a joint statement from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and FDIC Chair Martin Gruenberg.

The Fed facility will offer loans of up to one year to banks, saving associations, credit unions and other institutions. Those taking advantage of the facility will be asked to pledge high-quality collateral such as Treasurys, agency debt and mortgage-backed securities.

«This action will bolster the capacity of the banking system to safeguard deposits and ensure the ongoing provision of money and credit to the economy,» the Fed said in a statement. «The Federal Reserve is prepared to address any liquidity pressures that may arise.»

The Treasury Department is providing up to $25 billion from its Exchange Stabilization Fund as a backstop for the funding program.

Along with the facility, the Fed said it will ease conditions at its discount window, which will use the same conditions as the BTFP.

The news came after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said Sunday