That can minimize the risk of losing the box’s contents. If you must put these documents in a safety deposit box, you may want to authorize a trusted partner to access your safe deposit box in case of an emergency. You may not have time to pre-authorize anyone to access those documents. Therefore, you probably shouldn’t store anything like medical directives or funeral arrangements. Remember that no one can get into your safety deposit box unless you have pre-authorized them. Boxes can only be accessed during the bank’s business hours. Plus, if you put cash in a high-yield savings account, you can grow your money rather than letting it sit idly.ĭon’t use bank safe deposit boxes to store any items you might need quickly, especially in an emergency. It’s actually against the rules of many banks.It’s also safer in an FDIC-insured bank account. You also should avoid storing cash in your safe deposit box. You can always get those documents replaced if you lose them. Again, you may want to place paper items in waterproof containers for extra protection.īank safe deposit boxes shouldn’t be used to store passports, revocable living wills and powers of attorney. You can also store other priceless items like gold coins, family heirlooms and photo negatives. Some examples include personal and property files, original birth certificates, insurance policies, property deeds, car titles and U.S. What Should You Store?īecause they’re secure, bank safe deposit boxes are an ideal place to store valuables and important documents. If you want to insure your items, you’ll need to get that coverage yourself via insurance. Banks won’t reimburse you for damage or theft either. Neither the bank nor the FDIC insure the contents of safety deposit boxes. They won’t be able to open your deposit box without your key anyways.Īlthough storing your items in bank safe deposit boxes are safe, in the event that they’re somehow stolen, they may be less protected. It might not sound better than putting your items in a safe at home, but a criminal can break into your house easier than into a bank vault and deposit box. You may want to put your items in waterproof containers or a plastic zip-lock bag to prevent water damage. However, no space is entirely safe from natural disasters. They’re reinforced to keep them safe during hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters. Safety deposit boxes are housed in vaults with thick doors and walls. This way, if you lose your key or someone steals it, no one will know what it belongs to. If someone else needs to access your box, they’ll need prior authorization from you.įor your security, don’t put any identifying information on your safe deposit box key such as the box number or bank’s name. Typically, each comes with two keys needed to open the box: one held by the bank and the other held by the box’s owner.īanks require identification when you go into the bank to access a safety deposit box. Safety deposit boxes are very secure to access.

Credit union safe deposit boxes