
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent agency of the US government that protects and reimburses your deposits up to a legal limit of $250,000 if your FDIC-insured bank fails. FDIC insurance covers checking, savings, and other deposit accounts. However, it does not cover all types of financial accounts or banking institutions. For example, credit union accounts are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) instead of the FDIC. To determine if a specific account is FDIC-insured, individuals can refer to the bank's website or advertising materials, or they can use the FDIC's Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE) tool.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Agency | Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) |
| Protection | Protects against loss of deposit at many banks, but not all |
| Coverage | Up to $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, per ownership category |
| Coverage Calculation | Dollar-for-dollar, principal plus any interest accrued or due to the depositor, through the date of default |
| Coverage for Joint Account | Up to $500,000 ($250,000 per co-owner) |
| Coverage for Separate Individual Accounts | $250,000 coverage on top of joint account coverage |
| Coverage for Prepaid Cards | Up to $250,000 (together with any other funds in the same ownership category) |
| Coverage for Wealthfront Cash Account | Up to $2 million |
| Exclusions | Investment products (e.g. mutual funds, annuities, life insurance policies, stocks, bonds), share accounts at credit unions |
| Verification | Check with the bank or use the FDIC's Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE) |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- FDIC-insured checking accounts are protected against bank failure
- FDIC insurance covers up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank
- FDIC insurance covers checking, savings, and other deposit accounts
- FDIC insurance doesn't cover all banks or financial account types
- You can check if your accounts are fully covered by the FDIC

FDIC-insured checking accounts are protected against bank failure
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent agency of the US government that was created during the Depression in 1933 to protect customers and maintain confidence in the banking system. FDIC insurance covers deposits in the event of a bank failure, but it does not cover losses due to fraud and theft. FDIC-insured checking accounts are protected against bank failure, with deposit insurance calculated dollar-for-dollar, including principal and any interest accrued or due to the depositor, through the date of default.
FDIC deposit insurance covers certain deposit products, including checking accounts and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts (MMDAs), and certificates of deposit (CDs). The FDIC does not insure all banking institutions or types of financial accounts. Investment products that are not deposits, such as mutual funds, annuities, life insurance policies, stocks, and bonds, are not covered by FDIC deposit insurance.
Deposit insurance is provided up to a standard maximum of $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, per ownership category. This means that a couple with a joint checking account that's FDIC-insured can receive insurance for up to $500,000 for the same shared account ($250,000 per co-owner). If each person in the couple also has their own individual checking account (under the "single account" category), each of those accounts would have its own $250,000 coverage, in addition to the $500,000 coverage for their joint account.
In the unlikely event of a bank failure, the FDIC responds in two ways. First, as the insurer of the bank's deposits, the FDIC pays insurance to depositors up to the insurance limit. Historically, the FDIC has paid insurance within a few days after a bank closing, usually on the next business day. This is done by either providing each depositor with a new account at another insured bank for an amount equal to the insured balance of their account at the failed bank or issuing a check to each depositor for the insured balance of their account.
Robinhood's Federal Insurance: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products

FDIC insurance covers up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent government agency that protects against the loss of deposits at many banks, but not all. FDIC insurance covers up to $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, for each account ownership category. This includes checking and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts (MMDAs), and certificates of deposit (CDs).
The FDIC does not insure all banking institutions or types of financial accounts. For example, it does not insure regular shares and share draft accounts held at credit unions. Instead, these accounts are insured by the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund, run by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).
It's important to note that FDIC insurance coverage is not limited to just one account. If you have multiple accounts at the same bank with different ownership categories, your total coverage may exceed $250,000. For example, if you have a single ownership account and a joint ownership account at the same FDIC-insured bank, you will be insured for up to $250,000 for your single ownership account deposits and separately for your ownership interest in the joint account.
You can use the FDIC's Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE) to calculate your specific deposit insurance coverage. This tool will help you determine how much of your funds are covered by FDIC insurance based on your specific account details. Additionally, you can confirm that your bank is insured by searching for it in the BankFind tool available on the FDIC website or by contacting the FDIC directly.
Understanding the Federal Reserve's Insurance Limit
You may want to see also
Explore related products

FDIC insurance covers checking, savings, and other deposit accounts
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent government agency that protects customers against the loss of up to $250,000 in bank deposits if their bank fails. FDIC insurance covers checking, savings, and other deposit accounts. This includes negotiable orders of withdrawal (NOW), money market deposit accounts (MMDA), and certificates of deposit (CD). FDIC insurance is provided automatically when a deposit account is opened at an FDIC-insured bank or financial institution.
FDIC insurance covers eligible bank accounts up to $250,000 for the principal and any accrued interest. This insurance is provided per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, and per ownership category. For example, if a customer had a CD account in her name alone with a principal balance of $195,000 and $3,000 in accrued interest, the full $198,000 would be insured. The FDIC typically pays out insurance within a few days of a bank closing, either by providing each depositor with a new account at another insured bank for the insured balance or by issuing a check for the insured balance.
FDIC deposit insurance covers certain deposit products, including checking and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts (MMDAs), and certificates of deposit (CDs). It is important to note that not all financial products at a bank are covered by the FDIC. Investment products that are not deposits, such as mutual funds, annuities, life insurance policies, stocks, and bonds, are not covered by FDIC insurance.
The FDIC provides separate insurance coverage for different categories of legal ownership, known as "ownership categories." This means that a bank customer with multiple accounts may qualify for more than $250,000 in insurance coverage if their funds are deposited in different ownership categories and meet the requirements for each category. Examples of FDIC ownership categories include single accounts, certain retirement accounts, employee benefit plan accounts, joint accounts, trust accounts, business accounts, and government accounts.
To calculate specific deposit insurance coverage, individuals can use the FDIC's Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE) and enter information about their accounts. It is important to note that FDIC insurance only applies to eligible bank accounts, and not all banks are FDIC-insured.
FDIC: How It Protects Your Money
You may want to see also

FDIC insurance doesn't cover all banks or financial account types
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent government agency that protects customers against the loss of up to $250,000 in eligible bank accounts if their bank fails. FDIC insurance covers deposit accounts, including checking and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts (MMDAs), and certificates of deposit (CDs). It also covers negotiable orders of withdrawal (NOW), cashier's checks, money orders, and prepaid cards. However, FDIC insurance does not cover all banks or financial account types.
Firstly, FDIC insurance only applies to FDIC-insured banks. While most financial institutions are covered, not all banks are FDIC-insured. Banks that are FDIC-insured will display the FDIC insurance logo on their website. You can also use the FDIC's BankFind tool to determine if a bank is FDIC-insured.
Secondly, FDIC insurance only covers certain types of deposit accounts and does not cover all financial products offered by banks. Investment accounts, such as mutual funds, annuities, life insurance policies, stocks, and bonds, are not covered by FDIC insurance. Credit union accounts are also not insured by the FDIC but are instead insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA).
It is important to note that FDIC insurance is calculated per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, and per ownership category. This means that the $250,000 limit applies to each account owner and the type of account they hold. For example, a single account holder with a savings account and a checking account at the same FDIC-insured bank would be covered up to $250,000 for each account.
To determine if your specific accounts are fully covered by FDIC insurance, you can use the FDIC's Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE) tool and enter information about your accounts. Additionally, you can contact the FDIC directly to ask any specific deposit insurance questions.
Fifth Third Bank: Is Your Money Safe?
You may want to see also

You can check if your accounts are fully covered by the FDIC
Checking accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), an independent government agency that protects bank customers against losses of up to $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, per ownership category. This includes principal and interest.
However, FDIC deposit insurance only covers certain deposit products, such as checking and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts (MMDAs), and certificates of deposit (CDs). It does not cover all financial products at a bank, and some accounts, such as those at credit unions, are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) instead.
To check if your accounts are fully covered by the FDIC, you can use the FDIC's Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE). This tool allows you to calculate your specific deposit insurance coverage by entering information about your accounts. You can also call the FDIC toll-free at 1-877-ASK-FDIC (1-877-275-3342) to determine your deposit insurance coverage or ask any specific deposit insurance questions.
It is important to note that the FDIC only insures deposit products and not investment products such as mutual funds, annuities, life insurance policies, stocks, and bonds. Additionally, the FDIC does not insure all banking institutions, and the coverage depends on the ownership category.
Chime's FDIC Insurance: Your Money Is Safe
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The FDIC is an independent government agency that protects and reimburses your deposits up to a legal limit of $250,000 if your bank fails.
Deposits are insured up to at least $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, per ownership category. For example, a couple with a joint checking account that's FDIC-insured can receive insurance for up to $500,000 for the same shared account ($250,000 per co-owner).
FDIC deposit insurance covers certain deposit products, such as checking and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts (MMDAs), and certificates of deposit (CDs).
You can get detailed information about your specific deposit insurance coverage by accessing the FDIC's Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE) and entering information about your accounts.



















