
Bank insurance on deposits is a type of protection that safeguards your money in case the bank fails. It's a safety net that ensures you get your money back, minus any interest that's accrued.
In the US, bank insurance is provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The FDIC insures deposits up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank.
This means that if you have a savings account with $200,000 in it, the FDIC will cover the full amount in case the bank goes under. The insurance is automatic, and you don't need to apply for it.
Banks are required to participate in the FDIC program, so you can feel confident that your deposits are protected.
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Deposit Insurance Coverage
Deposit insurance coverage is a crucial aspect of banking that protects your deposits in case the bank fails. FDIC deposit insurance covers deposits in all types of accounts at FDIC-insured banks, but not non-deposit investment products.
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FDIC deposit insurance covers a wide range of accounts, including negotiable order of withdrawal (NOW) accounts, money market deposit accounts (MMDAs), time deposits such as certificates of deposit (CDs), and annuities. It also covers single, joint, and certain retirement accounts, trust accounts, employee benefit plan accounts, corporation/partnership/unincorporated association accounts, and government accounts.
The FDIC insures deposits at member banks in the event that a bank fails, which means that access to your insured deposits is not interrupted. This protection is provided by the FDIC's online Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE), which can help you calculate how much of your funds are covered by deposit insurance.
FDIC deposit insurance covers up to $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, for each account ownership category. However, you may qualify for more than $250,000 in FDIC deposit insurance coverage if you deposit money in accounts that are in different ownership categories.
Here's a breakdown of the account ownership categories and their corresponding coverage limits:
Keep in mind that accounts at different banks are insured separately, and all branches of a bank are considered to form a single bank.
Account Protection

Account protection is a top priority when it comes to bank insurance on deposits. FDIC deposit insurance covers deposits in all types of accounts at FDIC-insured banks.
Your deposits are insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, for each account ownership category. This means that your single ownership account and joint ownership account are insured separately, up to $250,000 each.
You can calculate your coverage limits using the FDIC's online Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE). This tool helps you determine how much of your funds are covered by deposit insurance.
FDIC deposit insurance covers a wide range of deposit accounts, including checking accounts, savings accounts, time deposits, and more. Here are some of the specific types of accounts that are covered:
- checking accounts and negotiable order of withdrawal (NOW) accounts
- savings accounts and money market deposit accounts (MMDAs)
- time deposits including certificates of deposit (CDs)
- outstanding cashier's checks, interest checks, and other negotiable instruments drawn on the accounts of the bank
- accounts denominated in foreign currencies
Account Coverage
FDIC insurance covers deposits in all types of accounts at FDIC-insured banks. This means you can feel secure knowing your money is protected.
The types of accounts that are covered by FDIC deposit insurance include negotiable order of withdrawal (NOW) accounts, money market deposit accounts (MMDAs), time deposits such as certificates of deposit (CDs), and annuities. These accounts are designed to provide a safe place for your money to grow.
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Here are some specific types of accounts that are covered by FDIC deposit insurance:
- Single Accounts
- Joint Accounts
- Certain Retirement Accounts —for example, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
- Trust Accounts
- Employee Benefit Plan Accounts
- Corporation / Partnership / Unincorporated Association Accounts
- Government Accounts
In the unlikely event that your bank closes, FDIC deposit insurance protects your insured deposits. The FDIC acts quickly to ensure that access to your insured deposits is not interrupted.
Accounts Held by an Agent
Accounts held by an agent can be insured just like any other account, as long as the funds are deposited into a deposit account in the name of the agent. This is stated in section 330.7 of the article.
Funds owned by a principal or principals and deposited into an account in the name of an agent are insured to the same extent as if deposited in the name of the principal(s). This means that the principal's funds are protected up to the standard maximum deposit insurance amount (SMDIA).
Agency or nominee accounts, as described in section 330.7, are treated the same way as if the principal had deposited the funds directly into their own account. This is a reassuring fact for those who need to have their funds managed by an agent.
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For instance, if you have a trust account managed by a bank, the funds held in that account are insured just like any other account. This is because the bank is acting as a trustee of an irrevocable trust, which is governed by section 330.13 of the article.
It's also worth noting that if you're an American Indian, there are special rules that apply to your accounts. However, these rules don't affect agency or nominee accounts, so you can rest assured that your funds are protected in these types of accounts.
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Bank Insolvency and Resolution
Bank failures are unlikely, but they do happen. The FDIC acts quickly when this happens to ensure that access to your insured deposits is not interrupted.
The FDIC deposit insurance protects your insured deposits if your bank closes. This means you can have peace of mind knowing your money is safe.
Bank failures are protected by the FDIC, which ensures that access to your insured deposits is not interrupted. This protection is a crucial safeguard for depositors.
FDIC deposit insurance protects up to $250,000 of your deposits per insured bank, per depositor, per insured bank ownership category. This coverage includes checking and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts, and certificates of deposit.
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Special Cases

Bank failures are unlikely, but they do happen. FDIC deposit insurance protects your insured deposits if your bank closes.
In some cases, your bank may merge with another bank. If this happens, the FDIC will terminate the insured status of the merging bank on the date they receive satisfactory evidence of the assumption.
The separate insurance of deposits assumed in a merger continues for six months from the date the assumption takes effect or until the earliest maturity date after the six-month period. Time deposits that mature within six months of the deposit assumption and are renewed at the same dollar amount and term as the original deposit will continue to be separately insured until the first maturity date after the six-month period.
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Continuation of Separate Deposit Insurance After Merger
In the event of a bank merger, the FDIC has specific rules for continuing separate deposit insurance. The insured status of the institutions whose liabilities have been assumed terminates on the date of receipt by the FDIC of satisfactory evidence of the assumption.
During this transition, the separate insurance of deposits assumed continues for six months from the date the assumption takes effect. This means that even if a bank merges with another, your deposits are still protected for a limited time.
Time deposits that mature within six months of the deposit assumption are separately insured only until the end of the six-month period. This means you'll want to review your accounts to ensure you understand the insurance coverage during this time.
In the case of time deposits that are renewed at the same dollar amount and term as the original deposit, the separate insurance applies to the renewed deposits until the first maturity date after the six-month period. This provides an added layer of protection for your deposits during this transition.
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Single Ownership
Single ownership accounts are treated as individual accounts for deposit insurance purposes.
Funds owned by a natural person and deposited in one or more deposit accounts in their own name are added together and insured up to the SMDIA in the aggregate.

If more than one natural person has the right to withdraw funds from an individual account, it's treated as a joint ownership account, unless the deposit account records clearly indicate that the funds are owned by one individual.
Sole proprietorship accounts are treated as the individual account(s) of the person who is the sole proprietor and are added to any other individual accounts of that person for deposit insurance purposes.
Community property funds deposited into one or more deposit accounts in the name of one member of a husband-wife community are treated as the individual account(s) of the named member.
Funds held in the name of a decedent or in the name of the executor, administrator, or other personal representative of their estate are added together and insured up to the SMDIA in the aggregate.
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Section 330.3 Principles
The primary principle of bank insurance on deposits is to protect depositors' funds in case of bank failure.

Bank insurance is designed to provide a safety net for depositors, ensuring that their deposits are covered up to a certain amount.
The standard coverage amount is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank.
This means that even if a bank fails, depositors can rest assured that their insured deposits will be returned to them.
The FDIC, or Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, is responsible for administering the bank insurance program.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if you have more than 250k in the bank?
If you have more than $250,000 in the bank, your excess funds may not be insured in the event of a bank failure. Learn more about FDIC insurance and how it protects your deposits
How can I get more than 250k FDIC insurance?
To exceed the standard $250,000 FDIC insurance limit, consider diversifying your accounts across multiple institutions, ownership categories, or networks. This strategy can help you maximize your coverage, but requires careful planning to ensure distinct accounts.
Sources
- https://www.fdic.gov/resources/deposit-insurance/understanding-deposit-insurance
- https://www.edwardjones.com/us-en/investment-services/account-options/cash-credit/savings-accounts/insured-bank-deposit
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Deposit_Insurance_Corporation
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-12/chapter-III/subchapter-B/part-330
- https://baycoast.bank/en/insured-deposits/
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