I can't believe how many numpties miss the point here. If a high st bank collapses and the savings are lost, that's it! Game over. We all rush to the other banks to get our money so we can put it under the bed, the banks ain't got it people! in fact on good day they ain't got 5% of it! Wholesale banking collapse, we are back in caves. Forget the �35K guarentee, the government would have to declare a state of emergency, troops on the streets to manage our decline into collapse. This cannot be overstated if the people do not have confidence in the where their money is, end of. That's why no governement will allow a bank that takes deposits of the masses to go t1ts up, too dangerous, worse than a nuclear bomb, far worse.