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The second option is a sweep account, in which a customer’s balance in excess of $250,000 is “swept out” every night to other IntraFi Network banks in smaller blocks.

The consensus was that since our money in SVB is in what’s called a cash sweep account — basically, an account where cash is swept into a fund with more interest but low risk — it was safe.

According to Crane Money Fund Intelligence, the average brokerage sweep account had a yield of 0.13 percent in December.

A $100,000 balance in a Schwab sweep account had a 0.06 percent yield in December.

“Brokerage firms have gone to charging zero commission on trades, but they can afford to do that by basically paying nothing on your sweep account,” said Mr. Cordaro, referring to the cash account where proceeds from trades are parked.