Banking103 · Module III · Lesson 09 of 9
Quiz · 10 min

Quiz: Banking mechanics

Ten scenarios and the correct instrument.

Quiz
  1. 01The maximum FDIC insurance limit per depositor, per bank, per ownership category is:

    • A. $100,000
    • B. $250,000
    • C. $500,000
    • D. Unlimited
    Reveal answer

    B. The limit has been $250,000 since 2008; it applies per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category.

  2. 02A wire transfer is best characterized as:

    • A. Reversible, slow, low-cost
    • B. Irreversible, same-day, moderate-cost
    • C. Reversible, same-day, free
    • D. Irreversible, slow, low-cost
    Reveal answer

    B. Wires are the classic same-day irreversible transfer with a $15–35 fee at most banks.

  3. 03A money-market fund at a brokerage is:

    • A. A bank deposit insured by FDIC
    • B. A brokerage product invested in short-term instruments
    • C. A stock
    • D. A certificate of deposit
    Reveal answer

    B. Money-market funds are securities, not deposits. They are protected by SIPC against broker failure, not by FDIC against loss.

  4. 04The efficiency ratio of a bank is:

    • A. Loans divided by deposits
    • B. Noninterest expense divided by revenue
    • C. Net income divided by assets
    • D. Revenue divided by employees
    Reveal answer

    B. Efficiency ratio measures operating cost against revenue. Below 55% is well-run; above 70% is trouble.

  5. 05The three risks in a maturity-transforming bank are:

    • A. Credit, liquidity, interest-rate
    • B. Fraud, market, operational
    • C. Regulatory, reputational, cyber
    • D. FX, commodity, equity
    Reveal answer

    A. Credit (the borrower does not repay), liquidity (depositors demand cash at once), and interest-rate (the spread compresses or reverses).

  6. 06For real-estate closings, the standard transfer rail is:

    • A. ACH
    • B. RTP
    • C. Wire
    • D. FedNow
    Reveal answer

    C. Same-day, irreversible, high-limit — the parties trade reversibility for finality.

  7. 07A neobank without its own charter typically holds customer deposits at:

    • A. The Federal Reserve
    • B. A sponsor bank
    • C. The FDIC
    • D. Its holding company
    Reveal answer

    B. Neobanks operate on top of a chartered sponsor bank; the sponsor bank holds the deposits and provides FDIC insurance.

  8. 08The right home for the household's emergency reserve is:

    • A. The primary checking account
    • B. A high-yield savings account, ideally at a second bank
    • C. A brokerage account holding equities
    • D. A rewards checking account with a high balance requirement
    Reveal answer

    B. Fully liquid, meaningful yield, and separated from operating funds — usually at a second institution for redundancy.

Quiz

A short assessment of comprehension before advancing.