For credit unions and banks, having $6 trillion parked in someof their accounts should be a good thing for their bottom lines,right?

Not necessarily, according to research firm Market RatesInsight. It could be an indication that members and customers arestill not confident with the state of the country's economy. Andthat apprehension may also stop them from moving their funds intosavings vehicles such as certificates of deposit, which tend tooffer greater returns and much more revenue for financialinstitutions.

Data from MRI showed that nearly $6 trillion is sitting idle inchecking, savings and money market accounts, which amounts to 75cents of each deposit dollar but is earning less than half of 1% ininterest. The firm said $6 trillion is the highest amount of liquiddeposits in U.S. banking history.

“The fact that a record amount of money is sitting idle inliquid accounts despite dismal returns is a vote of no confidencein the economy,” said Dan Geller, executive vice president at MRIin San Anselmo, Calif. “[It] is an indication that consumers arenot yet confident enough about the prospects of economic recovery,and are reluctant to make a time commitment with their money.”

The increase in liquid account balances is attributed to anincrease in new deposit money as well as money that was moved frommaturing CD accounts to checking, savings and MMAs, according toMRI. Liquid money now makes up a record of 75% of total depositbalances in U.S. bank accounts. From March 2009 to March 2011,nearly 13% of total deposits shifted from term accounts such asCDs, to checking, savings and MMAs. In March 2009, during the lastrecession, liquid account balances made up 62.2% of total deposits.By March 2011, liquid account balances, as percentage of totalbalances, reached a new height of 75%.

Geller said regardless of the type of financial institution,most are in the midst of dealing with idle money accounts.

“Credit unions are experiencing the same trends in depositsbecause the emotions–fear due to uncertainty–impacts customers ofall institutions,” he noted.

This record growth in liquid accounts comes at a time when theaverage interest rate on liquid accounts is less than half apercent, MRI found. This is an indication that consumers are notconfident enough in the prospects of economic recovery and preferto have more of their money readily available in case of animmediate financial need, Geller said.

“The question is, why would consumers keep more of their money,than ever before, in liquid accounts knowing that they could earngreater return in CDs,” Geller said. “The simple answer is lack ofeconomic confidence. Put simply, consumers are not confident enoughin the prospects of economic recovery.”