What was the biggest bank failure in US history?

Written by Editorial Team | Last Updated: August 2026

The biggest bank failure in United States history occurred in September 2008 during the peak of the global financial crisis with the catastrophic collapse of Washington Mutual, commonly known as WaMu. As the largest savings and loan association in the country, Washington Mutual held over three hundred billion dollars in assets and immense customer deposits before reckless lending practices, aggressive exposure to high-risk subprime mortgages, and option adjustable-rate mortgages triggered an unprecedented digital and physical bank run. Federal regulators stepped in to seize the institution, orchestrating an emergency sale of its banking operations to JPMorgan Chase while wiping out equity holders, making it the largest and most dramatic bank failure in American financial history.

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