Consumer Caution: Payment Apps and the Risk of Uninsured Deposits

In the evolving landscape of financial services, nonbank payment app companies are revealing significant gaps in deposit insurance coverage compared to traditional bank and credit union accounts. These companies, often regulated as money services businesses (MSBs), are required to register with the U.S. Department of Treasury but are not subject to the same federal oversight as their traditional counterparts. Consequently, consumer deposits in these apps might lack crucial protections.

Payment apps have emerged as convenient alternatives to traditional banks, offering services such as payment transfers and stored value services that resemble deposit accounts. However, critical differences emerge when scrutinizing deposit insurance coverage. Traditional banks and credit unions provide depositors with Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) insurance, which safeguards deposits up to $250,000 in the event of institutional failure. On the other hand, deposit insurance for payment apps only applies if funds are deposited at an FDIC-insured bank or an NCUA-insured credit union.

Moreover, some payment apps, which often invest user funds and do not pay interest on balances, may lack transparency about where consumer funds are held and whether they are insured. Additionally, they might impose pre-conditions for deposit insurance, which can be difficult to verify. Importantly, deposit insurance does not protect against the failure of the nonbank company itself.

Furthermore, these companies might invest customer funds in risky non-deposit products, posing a risk of insolvency if investment values decline or if customers demand their funds all at once. In such cases, consumers may face significant delays in accessing their funds during bankruptcy proceedings.

Regulatory bodies, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the FDIC, have raised concerns about potential consumer confusion, leading to advisories against deceptive representations involving FDIC’s name, logo, or deposit insurance. The FDIC also proposed an update to rules regarding signage to clearly indicate where uninsured products are offered.

Consumers are advised to be aware of these risks when maintaining balances in nonbank payment apps. To minimize these risks, transferring balances back to federally insured accounts is recommended. Regulatory bodies will continue to monitor this growing segment of the payments ecosystem and consider further protective measures.