Questions people ask
What do people use instead of safe deposit boxes?
The short answer
Private vault boxes, home safes and specialist depositories are the usual alternatives to a bank safe deposit box. Many banks have reduced or closed box services at branches, which is why the question comes up at all.
The longer answer
A private vault box is a contract for space rather than a bank account, so the contents are not a deposit and are not FDIC insured — and neither are the contents of a bank's box, which surprises people. Contents insurance is arranged separately against a declared value. A home safe keeps things where you are, which is convenient and, during a separation, exactly the problem.