I'm not sure you understood what I'm saying.

My point is that the FDIC refunding more than 250k wasn't a bailout of the banks because FDIC insured banks are the ones who fund the FDIC.

The main point to take away is that healthy banks are on the hook for paying depositors through assessments charged by the FDIC.

My point is that the FDIC DIF premiums and assessments are mandated by law and are thus a tax levied on banks. So the you’re trying to make it seem like the banks are managing the risk themselves but another way of looking at it is that all FDIC operations are funded via tax revenue, just like everything else the government does. Ultimately, the FDIC is backed by the full faith and credit of the US.

> funded via tax revenue, just like everything else the government does

FDIC assessments and taxes are different. You can over-simplify mentally to a tax, but that doesn't make it true.

The FDIC runs more like an insurance provider than a run-of-the-mill government agency.

Social security and Medicare are also a form of insurance. Are you not paying a social security and Medicare tax? How is that different?