Fewer banks failed in 2008 than expected despite the catastrophic failures of major U.S. thrifts like IndyMac and Washington Mutual, American Banker reports.

Experts believe that government intervention, including the $700 bailout plan or “TARP” program, may have stemmed the worst of the bleeding at the nation’s banks, but suggest many will not make it through 2009.

The report suggests the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) is even anticipating the increase in failures, noting the government-backed insurance group almost doubled its budget for next year, to $2.24 billion. At least the FDIC is one place that’s hiring in these gloomy times; they expect to add 800 jobs in 2009.

I’m not going to get nervous about where my money is stashed, but I will be double checking I don’t have more than $250k (the new FDIC insurance maximum) in any one deposit account. 2009 is going to be an interesting year economically in a lot of ways; the prospect of more bank failures is but one ingredient in the pot.