If you’re choosing a deposit or you simply have more savings in the bank, one key question quickly comes up: what happens if the bank runs into trouble? That is exactly why a deposit guarantee up to 100.000 € is one of the most important “safety nets” in the EU, but in practice people often understand it far too simplistically. In this article, we explain how the limit is calculated, what is included, what is not, and what you can do if you have more than 100.000 €. If you’re currently comparing options, you can first use the deposit comparison or quickly estimate your return in the deposit calculator.
What does a deposit guarantee up to 100.000 € mean?
In Slovenia, deposits held by individuals and small businesses are protected under the deposit guarantee scheme. Broadly speaking, this means that if a bank becomes unavailable (for example, insolvent) and savers cannot access their funds, the system pays out guaranteed deposits up to 100.000 € per depositor at each individual bank.
The key point: the limit is “per person and per bank”
This is the most common misunderstanding. The guarantee does not apply to each individual account (current account, savings account, deposit, etc.), but to the total amount of your deposits at the same bank:
Example
If you have 60.000 € in a current account, 30.000 € in a savings account, and 20.000 € in a deposit at the same bank, your total exposure is 110.000 €. The guaranteed portion is 100.000 €, while the remaining 10.000 € is not guaranteed.
What is (usually) covered?
The guarantee generally covers:
- Funds in current accounts and savings accounts
- Deposits (fixed-term deposits)
- Interest that had already accrued by the day the funds became unavailable (up to the limit)
What is not covered (and this is where people often get it wrong)
A deposit guarantee does not mean that “everything held at the bank” is protected. The following are usually not covered:
- Shares, bonds, funds, and other securities (these are not “deposits”)
- Investment-linked policies (life insurance with an investment component)
- Crypto and similar products
How is the guarantee calculated for joint accounts?
For a joint account, the funds are usually divided among the account holders. Put simply: if there are 2 holders on the account, the amount is usually counted “half and half” (unless the bank records it differently). In practice, a joint account can therefore mean a higher combined guaranteed amount (for example, 2 x 100.000 €), because the limit applies per person.
What should you do if you have more than 100.000 €?
If you are approaching the limit or already above it, there are a few typical approaches:
- Spread your funds across several banks (the limit applies per bank)
- Consider splitting funds across several maturities (liquidity + interest rate management)
- Check whether part of your money is held in products that are not deposits (and understand their risk)
If you are choosing between several maturities, it also makes sense to account for the “cost of waiting” (how much interest you lose if the money stays in your current account). The Lost Interest calculator is useful for that.
How quickly does the payout happen?
There is one more important factor with a guarantee: time. Even if a deposit is guaranteed, that does not mean you get the money back the same day. In practice, the payout timeline depends on the process and the specific event, but the aim of guarantee schemes is fast payout. That is why it makes sense to always keep part of your money liquid and diversified (for example, at least 1-3 months of living expenses).