SWISS AMERICA: THE FINANCIAL JENGA PLAYBOOK

11. **Bank Term Funding Program (BTFP)**: The conclusion of the Bank Term Funding Program (BTFP) on March 11, 2024, following a substantial borrowing of approximately $167 billion from the Federal Reserve, signifies a significant shift in the financial landscape. Initially introduced in March 2023, the BTFP provided critical liquidity support to banks by allowing them to use insolvent bonds as collateral for borrowing funds at favorable rates. However, with the program's closure, businesses and individuals now face a tightening of credit conditions. For businesses, the end of the BTFP translates to reduced access to funding, potentially hindering investment in growth opportunities and operational expenses. This will necessitate strategic reassessment and cost-cutting measures, with implications for workforce and expansion plans. Moreover, industries reliant on credit, such as small businesses and startups, will encounter heightened difficulties in securing capital for their operations leading to corporate bankruptcies. On a personal level, individuals will experience higher borrowing costs and constraints on credit availability, potentially triggering personal bankruptcies as they struggle to manage debt amidst tightened credit conditions. Physical gold and silver protect your wealth when banks, including potentially insolvent ones, borrow substantial sums through programs like the Bank Term Funding Program (BTFP). They preserve your wealth by retaining value, acting as safe-havens during financial stress, and diversifying your assets beyond traditional banks. Importantly, there's no counterparty risk, meaning you don't rely on anyone else's liability for the security of your precious metals. 12. **The Deposit Insurance Fund**: The safety of your money in the bank is an illusion. Let's break it down: the FDIC manages “The Deposit Insurance Fund,” which holds a mere $119 billion. Sounds like a decent cushion, right? But brace yourself—there's a staggering $10.5 trillion in insured deposits and an additional $7 trillion in uninsured deposits lurking within the banking system. Now, picture the coming financial crisis strikes the banking sector. That deposit insurance fund will vanish faster than you can imagine. What comes next is alarming: "bail-ins." As an unsecured creditor, your hard-earned money essentially becomes a resource for the bank to cover its losses. Enter physical gold and silver. These precious metals have an unblemished record of preserving wealth during crises. They're a fortress against currency devaluation, inflation, and yes, the very real threat of bank failures. They are your lifeline when the bank's safety net proves to be nothing more than a frayed rope.