What is a safe deposit box?
A safe deposit box is a miniature vault you can use to store jewelry, family heirlooms, important documents and other valuables. It is also called a safety deposit box. Some safe deposit boxes are a long, metal box, like a drawer.
Read on to learn more about safe deposit boxes: where to find them, how safe they are, how much they cost and how to use them.
Where can you rent a safe deposit box?
Traditionally, brick-and-mortar banks and credit unions have rented out safe deposit boxes kept at branches, but fewer and fewer financial institutions offer them now. Some private vault facilities offer safe deposit boxes.
How safe are safe deposit boxes?
Bank safe deposit boxes are individual containers with locks that are kept secure within a bigger bank vault. Safe deposit boxes are generally in a bank vault that is fire- and water-resistant. But the boxes themselves are still susceptible to damage or loss from fire, flooding or theft.
Safe deposit boxes can sit in vaults protected by steel-lined or concrete walls and alarm systems with heat, motion and vibration detectors and secured with clock-controlled vault doors.
What’s important to consider is that unlike deposit accounts, safe deposit boxes aren't insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. or the National Credit Union Administration.
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How much does a safe deposit box cost?
Safe deposit box sizes largely determine their cost. Bank safe deposit boxes may also vary in price depending on the institution; safe deposit boxes at a traditional brick-and-mortar bank may be significantly more expensive than those at a local credit union, for example.
Payments are generally made yearly. At some banks, safe deposit boxes are available at a discount to account holders who use their deposit accounts to make automatic payments for the boxes or to premium account holders.
How to use a safe deposit box: What you should and shouldn't store
To access a safe deposit box, you need two keys: one you keep and one the bank holds. This system ensures that neither party can access the box without the other. You can access a box only if you're authorized to do so, and you must typically produce identification and the key to the box before entering the vault.
Banks don’t know the contents of these boxes, so you’ll be able to open and sort through yours in private.
You can’t keep just anything in a safe deposit box; most rental agreements forbid storing items such as firearms, drugs and hazardous materials.
Here are more guidelines for using a safe deposit box:
Things to do with a safe deposit box:
- Tell your family that you have a box, and document how you intend to pass on the contents.
- Decide whether you need insurance.
- Store your items in sealed containers to prevent water damage.
- Check your box once per year, and keep a photograph of its contents.
Things not to do with a safe deposit box:
- Store cash. Instead, keep extra money in a savings account or certificate of deposit where it will be insured and collect interest.
- Store items you might need in an emergency. You'll have access only during business hours.
- Forget to pay your rental fees. You can expect your bank to send a notice about a renewal or late payment, but setting up automatic payments can minimize confusion and prevent the loss of your valuables.
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Bank safe deposit box alternatives
The following options are alternatives to safe deposit boxes, but they’re often more expensive and/or less secure.
Home safes or strong boxes are available, often for between $30 and $500, depending on size and strength. But again, your home is likely more vulnerable than a bank. Rather than having to crack the safe there, a robber could take it and open it later.
Private vault facilities are a viable, albeit pricier, option.
Whatever you decide, research the bank or credit union and its policies on safe deposit boxes before committing your items. Read and fully understand your rental agreement so you're aware of your rights and responsibilities. And don't forget about your safe deposit box after storing your items: Check on it regularly, and let your family know it exists in case they need to access it for you.
