IndyMac has been taken over by the FDIC until it can find a new owner. The first $100,000 of any person's deposits (that's for each person, not each account) is fully insured. Only the amount over $100,000 may be lost -- and in IndyMac's case, apparently only half of it (Mole's info is correct). That guarantee for the first $100,000 is standard FDIC practice, and is true of any bank nationwide (all banks are required to be FDIC members).

Included on the list of about 90 other banks (Rosalie's info is correct as well) may be Washington Mutual, or "WaMu," as they've advertised themselves. Other "Mutual" banks are probably overrepresented on the list as well, leading one to wonder how this type of bank operates.

Then there's FreddieMac and FannieMae, which are also in trouble, but may be bailed out by the federal government. I don't know all the details on them, but I'm planning to research it over the next couple of days. If, however, someone can give them here, please do so.

The key is that despite the good regulations, the strong FDIC, and the recent history of S&L bailouts during the last Bush administration, people still panic. What does that mean? It means that you can't trust Republicans with your money -- but then, you already knew that.