The government managed to stop depositors queuing to withdraw their savings only by guaranteeing all their money.

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Residents have been queuing outside banks to withdraw their savings from cash machines.

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Northern Rock's customers rushed to withdraw their savings after the Bank of England offered the mortgage lender emergency funding.

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At the same time, there are also concerns that if investors start to fear that the currency may keep on weakening, they may start to withdraw their savings and invest outside Japan.

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There are fears that if the value of Bankia's shares were wiped out in the rescue, this could prompt such anxiety among savers that they could withdraw their savings from Bankia, further weakening the bank.

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But it could allow the lifting of the bank holiday, and the banks were due to open for five hours on April 26th, in the expectation that few depositors would be allowed to withdraw their savings.

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Knowing this safety net will fall into place, you might be able to withdraw a higher percentage of your savings earlier in retirement than you would otherwise, says Jason Scott, managing director of the Retiree Research Center at Financial Engines Inc.

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Even without a sudden rush to withdraw cash, deposits are being run down as people live off savings.

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