FDIC BankFind MCP Server

Search Bank Failures

fdic_search_failures

Read-onlyIdempotent

Search failed FDIC-insured institutions by name, state, date range, resolution type, or estimated loss. Use filters and sorting to retrieve failure records, including highest-cost failures.

Instructions

Use this when the user wants details on failed FDIC-insured institutions filtered by name, state, date range, resolution type, estimated loss, or DIF cost. The failures field for estimated loss (DIF cost) is COST; for highest-cost failures use sort_by: COST and sort_order: DESC. Do not use ESTIMATED_LOSS. Returns failure records with pagination; see fdic://schemas/failures for the full field catalog.

Input Schema

TableJSON Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`limit`	No	Maximum number of records to return (1-10000, default: 20)
`fields`	No	Comma-separated list of FDIC field names to return. Leave empty to return all fields. Field names are ALL_CAPS (e.g., NAME, CERT, ASSET, DEP, STALP). Example: NAME,CERT,ASSET,DEP,STALP
`offset`	No	Number of records to skip for pagination (default: 0)
`filters`	No	FDIC API filter using ElasticSearch query string syntax. Combine conditions with AND/OR, use quotes for multi-word values, and [min TO max] for ranges (* = unbounded). Common fields: NAME (institution name), STNAME (state name), STALP (two-letter state code), CERT (certificate number), ASSET (total assets in $thousands), ACTIVE (1=active, 0=inactive). Examples: STNAME:"California", ACTIVE:1 AND ASSET:[1000000 TO *], NAME:"Chase"
`sort_by`	No	Field name to sort results by. Example: ASSET, NAME, FAILDATE
`sort_order`	No	Sort direction: ASC (ascending) or DESC (descending)	ASC

Output Schema

TableJSON Schema

Name	Required	Description	Default
`count`	Yes
`total`	Yes
`offset`	Yes
`failures`	Yes
`has_more`	Yes
`truncated`	No
`next_offset`	No

Schema Changelog

Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.

Changed12 schema fields changedv3.0.1Sep 22, 2026
- changedInput schema / $schema
```
Previous value: -"http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"New value: +"https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema"
```
- addedInput schema / properties / offset / maximum
```
Added value: +9007199254740991
```
- changedOutput schema / $schema
```
Previous value: -"http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#"New value: +"https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema"
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / count / maximum
```
Added value: +9007199254740991
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / count / minimum
```
Added value: +-9007199254740991
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / failures / items / propertyNames
```
Added value: +{
+  "type": "string"
+}
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / next_offset / maximum
```
Added value: +9007199254740991
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / next_offset / minimum
```
Added value: +-9007199254740991
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / offset / maximum
```
Added value: +9007199254740991
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / offset / minimum
```
Added value: +-9007199254740991
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / total / maximum
```
Added value: +9007199254740991
```
- addedOutput schema / properties / total / minimum
```
Added value: +-9007199254740991
```

Changed1 schema field changedv1.26.0May 1, 2026

changedOutput schema / (root)

Previous value: -nullNew value: +{
+  "$schema": "http://json-schema.org/draft-07/schema#",
+  "additionalProperties": false,
+  "properties": {
+    "count": {
+      "type": "integer"
+    },
+    "failures": {
+      "items": {
+        "additionalProperties": {},
+        "type": "object"
+      },
+      "type": "array"
+    },
+    "has_more": {
+      "type": "boolean"
+    },
+    "next_offset": {
+      "type": "integer"
+    },
+    "offset": {
+      "type": "integer"
+    },
+    "total": {
+      "type": "integer"
+    },
+    "truncated": {
+      "type": "boolean"
+    }
+  },
+  "required": [
+    "total",
+    "offset",
+    "count",
+    "has_more",
+    "failures"
+  ],
+  "type": "object"
+}

First observedv1.1.3Mar 19, 2026

TDQS

A4.5/5.0

Behavior4/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

Annotations already establish read-only, idempotent, and non-destructive behavior; the description adds value beyond those by disclosing pagination and by flagging the COST-vs-ESTIMATED_LOSS naming trap. This is meaningful behavioral context the annotations and schema do not provide.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

Four sentences, all informative and front-loaded with the use case. The field caveat is compact, the 'do not use ESTIMATED_LOSS' warning is explicit, and the closing schema pointer avoids unnecessary verbosity.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness5/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

With full schema parameter coverage, annotations, and an output schema, the description fills the remaining gaps: pagination behavior, the loss-field naming caveat, and a pointer to the full field catalog. No critical information needed for correct invocation is missing.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema coverage is 100%, so the baseline is 3. The description earns a 4 by adding a critical field-alias clarification (COST for DIF cost) and by explaining how to request highest-cost failures with sort_by and sort_order, which the schema does not fully convey.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

States a specific action (search) on a specific resource (failed FDIC-insured institutions) and enumerates the main filter dimensions. The word 'failed' distinguishes it from sibling tools like fdic_search_institutions without needing to name them.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

Opens with an explicit 'Use this when...' for the target case. It does not mention when-not-to-use or name alternative tools, but the usage context is clear enough to route an agent correctly.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.