Texas Bullion Depository: State-Level Security for Gold IRAs

Image via Houston Chronicle

Note: The Texas Bullion Depository is not to be confused with privately-owned Texas Precious Metals Depository located in Shiner, Texas.

Discover the only state-owned precious metals vault in the U.S. Texas Bullion Depository offers IRS-approved gold IRA storage, top-tier security, full insurance and unmatched privacy – good enough for the state’s own finances… 

Texas Bullion Depository: Facts at a glance

• Established in 2015 as the first state-administered bullion depository in the U.S.
• Official state agency: The only audited, regulated and state-backed bullion depository open to individuals and institutions alike
• High-security commercial-grade vaulting for precious metals with cutting-edge security and armed guards 24/7
• 100% insurance coverage underwritten by a leading global underwriter specializing in high-value asset protection
• Fully segregated storage means your assets are your own – never commingled

When the Texas legislature passed HB 483 back in 2015, the goal was clear: create a first-of-its-kind, state-administered depository for physical precious metals.¹ The Texas Comptroller’s office (essentially, the state's head accountant and treasurer) was concerned about economic volatility and financial security. Remember, inflation's toxic effects on our purchasing power affects government financial planning just as much as it affects ours.

They proposed a secure “bullion bank” where both the state and its residents could safely and securely deposit their precious metals. 

In 2018, the Texas Bullion Depository (TxBD) became the first-ever precious metals facility in the U.S. with official state government oversight – offering a level of security and accountability that private vaults simply couldn’t match.²

Texas Bullion Depository: The best of both worlds

The Texas Bullion Depository is a public institution operating under the authority of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. However, the state comptroller isn't exactly an expert in logistics and security. So Texas engages the day-to-day management and security of the depository to a private company, Lone Star Tangible Assets (LSTA).

This unusual public-private partnership offers some significant advantages over private vaults like Texas Precious Metals Depository or Delaware Depository: 

• Public governance: Because the TxBD is owned by the State of Texas, it’s subject to state-level oversight, reporting and auditing
• Expert management: LSTA handles the nuts and bolts of day-to-day operations including staffing, security operations, customer service, logistics and other daily functions
• Collaboration: LSTA's work is done under contract with the state, and must follow state rules and submit to oversight by Texas's account-in-chief

This combination of state guidance and practical, private-sector experience offers the best of both worlds – ensuring the $400 million in physical gold and silver on deposit are always handled securely and transparently. 

Everything's bigger in Texas

Located on a purpose-built 10-acre campus in Leander, just north of Austin, the 23,000-square-ft Texas Bullion Depository is built like a fortress.³ At its heart, a Class 3 vault (the highest security rating available) offers more storage space than even Fort Knox.⁴ Maximum-security, multilayered defenses include bullet-proof doors, biometric access systems, 24/7 surveillance and on-site armed protection provided by both Texas state police and Lone Star personnel. The Comptroller even has its own criminal investigation division, adding another layer of security to the public and private guardians of the Texas Bullion Depository. 

Essentially, when you store your Precious Metals IRA assets at TxBD, you get all the benefits of government-level security for your own private property. 

Segregated precious metals storage with absolute privacy & ironclad insurance

Every customer’s holdings are fully segregated.⁵ Unlike "allocated" accounts, where bullion is pooled and treated as fungible, segregated vaults ensure that your specific possessions are physically separated from the property of other clients. Each customer has a private, dedicated space for their property. So the specific gold coins or silver bars you deposited will be the exact same ones you withdraw. 

Segregated storage provides enhanced security and peace of mind, giving you direct ownership of your assets. Auditing and verification happen at the individual account-owner level. This ensures your assets are not only uniquely identified and audited, but also that they're fully covered under the TxBD's 100% all-risk insurance. (Bonus: Your insurance coverage scales automatically as your account grows.)⁶ 

On top of all that, advanced encryption systems and strict privacy standards keep client identities safe.

Trust, but verify

Texas Bullion Depository staff don’t simply secure your gold and silver. New deposits are inspected and authenticated before deposit, ensuring the legitimacy of every single coin and bar. This additional level of security is fantastic for your peace of mind. So everyday Americans can deposit with the same confidence as institutional investors (and even government agencies). 

Once your assets are locked up in Class III vaults, that doesn’t mean they’re inaccessible! TxBD offers online access to your account. You can log in to monitor your holdings, review deposit confirmations and withdrawal requests and receive automated alerts about your account. This is the same level of transparency and convenience the Texas Comptroller’s Office requires for its assets, and we get it for free.

Texas Bullion Depository even allows customers to make an appointment to visit the depository, offering private, secure viewing rooms so you can inspect, verify or just appreciate your assets in a safe, comfortable environment. 

Texas Bullion Depository: IRS eligible for Gold IRAs

Approved for self-directed precious metals IRAs, the depository is accessible to investors across the country. The Texas Bullion Depository features IRS-approved storage requirements for gold IRAs. 

Furthermore, TxBD works with one of the same trusted custodians that Birch Gold Group has chosen (Equity Trust Company) to safeguard your hard-earned savings. Storage fees are fair, transparent, and billed quarterly.

With COMEX-scale liquidity, ISO-level security and all the tax advantages of an IRA, your assets stay safe, accessible and (most importantly) sovereign.

Real security for real assets 

As of 2025, the Texas Bullion Depository holds over $400 million in precious metals. Doubtless that number will continue to grow… 

Why choose the Texas Bullion Depository? Because your financial future deserves more than just a vault! You deserve the full protection of state-backed integrity, cutting-edge security and complete transparency you can trust for generations. 

BGG - About the Author

About Peter Reagan

Peter Reagan has covered precious metals and the economy for Birch Gold Group for over 15 years. His articles have been featured in several leading publications, including Newsmax and Zerohedge. At Birch Gold Group, Peter leverages his deep market insights to help educate website visitors and customers on why they should consider diversifying their savings into gold and other precious metals, and how that process works. Due to this commitment to education, his content has become a trusted source of information throughout the industry.

BGG - About the Reviewer

About the reviewer Phillip Patrick

Phillip Patrick is a Precious Metals Specialist and spokesman for Birch Gold Group. Born in London, he earned a degree in politics and international relations from the University of Redding, and began his career as a wealth manager at Citigroup in London’s financial center. Since joining Birch Gold in 2012, Phillip has become a trusted voice on economic policy and precious metals, appearing as a guest on dozens of television and podcast platforms, including Newsmax, The Ben Shapiro Show, The Megyn Kelly Show, and Stephen K. Bannon’s War Room. In addition to his contributions on Birch Gold Group's blog, you can watch his interviews on Rumble and follow him on Gettr.

Sources

1. "Texas House Bill 3505" https://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=83R&Bill=HB3505
2. "The Texas Bullion Depository" by Lauren Mulverhill in Fiscal Notes, A Review of the Texas Economy. https://comptroller.texas.gov/economy/fiscal-notes/archive/2017/september/bullion-depository.php
3. "Texas Bullion Depository" official website https://texasbulliondepository.gov/
4. "Texas Bullion Depository opens in north Austin" by KXAN Austin and Central Texas news network. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUssZuI_5hI
5. "Frequently Asked Questions" https://www.texasbulliondepository.gov/faqs
6. "Depository Insurance" https://www.texasbulliondepository.gov/depository-insurance