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Awareness research

Our research shows that informing Canadians about CDIC deposit protection helps keep the financial system safe and secure, and reduces the risk of bank runs.

A bank run occurs when a large number of customers of a bank or another financial institution withdraw their deposits at once. Although bank runs are rare, they can have a significant impact on the economy and tend to reduce confidence in the financial system.

The probability that individuals will run a bank or other financial institution increases by 40 percentage points if they are not aware that there is deposit protection.

The damaging effects of a bank run can happen quickly:

A rumour starts, then spreads amongst individuals. It has a ripple effect, which in turn leads to a bank run.

Findings: awareness reduces risk

Our research shows that depositors who are made aware of government-backed deposit protection (such as that provided by CDIC) quickly and easily decide not to run a bank or other financial institution. The optimal level of awareness to reduce the risk of bank runs is between 60% and 65% of Canadians.

That’s why CDIC is working hard to ensure more Canadians know about deposit protection through its public awareness program.