News

Law

Asset Management

Investment Banking

Wealth

Hedge Funds

People

Newsletters

Events

Lists

Cryptocurrency

Signature Bank closed down as crypto concerns help fuel panic

Failure of real estate lender hobbled by crypto bet is third-largest in history

Signature opened in 2001 and pitched itself to businesses and individuals as an alternative to big banks
Signature opened in 2001 and pitched itself to businesses and individuals as an alternative to big banks Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

Signature Bank was closed by regulators on 12 March, the second massive bank failure in three days.

The New York-based bank faced a crisis of confidence after midsize lender Silicon Valley Bank was seized by regulators on 10 March. Signature was also reeling from a bet on crypto banking that foundered after the sector imploded and banking regulators cracked down on lenders’ exposure to digital assets. The failure is the third-largest in US history.

WSJ Logo