What You Should (and Should Not) Keep in a Safe Deposit Box
March 27, 2018
When you think of a “safe deposit box,” it's easy to picture a super spy like Jason Bourne or James Bond rifling through a hidden stash of cash, guns and fake IDs.
For the rest of us normal citizens, however, safe deposit boxes can serve a more practical, useful purpose.
What is a Safety Deposit Box?
A safe deposit box (or safety deposit box) is private container to store and protect valuables, held safely within the vault at a financial institution like Northwestern Bank. Safe Deposit boxes are an ideal place to secure important personal documents, collectibles, family heirlooms and keepsakes that you do not need on short notice.
It’s a general rule of thumb to not store anything in a safe deposit box that you will need on a daily basis or in an emergency – because you’ll only have access to your valuables when the bank is open (see NWB hours and locations).
Here’s a basic breakdown of what to keep (and not to keep) in a safe deposit box:
What Should Go In a Safe Deposit Box?
- Rare Collections (stamps, coins, baseball cards, etc.). If you place any collections in a safe deposit box, be sure to keep a list — along with photos and appraisals of these items — in a separate place at home, for your own reference.
- Jewelry. Aunt Margie’s brooch might be worth a lot of money, but it also might not be your style— so it’s probably better to keep it in a safe deposit box than your dresser drawer. This goes for any jewelry or family heirlooms that you don’t actually use on a regular basis.
- Important Contracts & Business Papers (deeds, titles, stock and bond certificates). The only time you’ll need your deeds or titles is when you’re preparing to sell your home or trade in your car. And although most stock and bond certificates are now issued electronically, if you have paper versions it’s good to keep them locked away.
- Personal Documents (birth certificate, marriage license, social security card). If you think you’ll need these more often, for verification or identification purposes, you can always keep copies of the same documents at home.
- Inventory of Valuable Household Possessions. If a disaster ever destroyed your home, would you be able to identify all of the possessions you lost? In the event of a catastrophe, it’s helpful to have a list of your possessions to reference, so you can file insurance claims and claim tax losses. Whatever type of list you keep — paper, digital, photo or video — is best to store somewhere outside of your home (like a safe deposit box).
What Should NOT Go in a Safe Deposit Box?
- Cash. We recommend you keep your money in a savings account, CD or another type of account that can collect interest.
- Living Wills, Durable Powers of Attorney, Medical Directives & Trust Documents. Do not store in a safe deposit box any document authorizing another person to make medical or financial decisions on your behalf, in the event that you die or are incapacitated. In some states, safe deposit boxes are automatically sealed when the owner dies – which can make accessing your box a very difficult process for your heirs.
- Passports. There is one caveat here – if you hardly ever travel abroad and are prone to losing things, keeping your passport in a safe deposit box might be worth the effort. Otherwise, keeping your passport at home will save you time.
- Valuables Not Inventoried. You should always keep a running list of what you have in your safe deposit box, along with photos and appraisals for these items.
- Insurance Policies & Agent Contact Information. If an emergency happens, you’ll need this information right away.
Are Safe Deposit Boxes Insured, Like My Bank Account?
No, safe deposit boxes are not federally insured, and are not insured by your financial institution whatsoever. We recommend you speak with your insurance agent to see if you can add a special “personal item floater” to your homeowners insurance, to cover valuable items in a safe deposit box. There are also companies that specialize in insuring safe deposit boxes. Talk to one of our personal bankers for more information.
How Much Does a Safe Deposit Box Cost?
At Northwestern Bank, the rental fee and pricing for safe deposit boxes varies by size and dimension — anywhere from $25 to $60 per year.* Other fees may also apply (including drilling, lost key, expedited re-key and late fees). For more details, contact us today.
How Can I Get A Safe Deposit Box?
Contact us if you’re interested in setting up a safe deposit box at any NWB location. Or, schedule an appointment for a day and time that work best for you. We're here to help!
*NOTICE: The fees may be changed by the Bank at any time after giving you written notice of not less than 30 days. For more information, visit your local branch, or contact us at (712) 737-4911 in Orange City or (712) 324-5141 in Sheldon.