As it's a hot topic at the moment I was wondering if you have a mortgage with a bank and you also have savings in the event of the bank going bust is one offset against the other. I know that if you default on your motgage the bank can take your savings. Also do Irish banks sell on their debts as the American banks do? If yes you could have the scenario of the bank going bust, your saving being zero (or 20K guaranteed)and your debt owned by another instituation. Is this too far fetched? But in the times we live it it's like the Wild West of banking at the minute so nothing seems too crazy.