What are the key financial institutions and how do they protect and transfer funds?

"15.3 U.S. Financial Institutions 3. What are the key financial institutions, and what role do they play in the process of financial intermediation? Financial institutions can be divided into two main groups: depository institutions and nondepository institutions. Depository institutions include commercial banks, thrift institutions, and credit unions. Nondepository institutions include insurance companies, pension funds, brokerage firms, and finance companies. Financial institutions ease the transfer of funds between suppliers and demanders of funds. 15.4 Insuring Bank Deposits 4. How does the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) protect depositors’ funds? The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insures deposits in commercial banks through the Bank Insurance Fund and deposits in thrift institutions through the Savings Association Insurance Fund. Deposits in credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, which is administered by the National Credit Union Administration. The FDIC sets banking policies and practices and reviews banks annually to ensure that they operate fairly and profitably."