
In the United States, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) provides insurance to protect deposits in savings and loan institutions. This means that if an institution fails, the FDIC will reimburse depositors for their insured deposits.
The FDIC insurance coverage is automatic for deposits in banks and thrifts that are FDIC-insured. This coverage applies to most types of deposits, including checking and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts, and certificates of deposit (CDs).
Depositors can verify if their institution is FDIC-insured by checking the FDIC's website or by looking for the FDIC sign at their bank or thrift. The FDIC also provides a deposit insurance estimator tool to help depositors determine the coverage amount for their accounts.
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Protection Methods
You can access your funds easily with Insured Cash Sweep, which provides full FDIC insurance coverage on account balances up to $175M. This means your account funds are deposited among member banks to ensure full FDIC coverage.
The FDIC insures deposits at member banks in the event that a bank fails, deciding it no longer meets the requirements for remaining in business. This gives you peace of mind knowing your funds are protected.
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Insured Cash Sweep

With Insured Cash Sweep, you can have peace of mind knowing your funds are fully covered by the FDIC. Access to full FDIC insurance coverage is available on account balances up to $175M.
Your account funds are deposited among member banks to ensure full FDIC coverage. This provides a simple, safe, and seamless experience.
You can access your funds as needed, without any restrictions.
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Insurance Coverage
Insurance coverage is a crucial aspect of protecting your funds. The FDIC insures deposits at member banks in the event that a bank fails, and the regulating authority decides that it no longer meets the requirements for remaining in business.
The FDIC has a long history of increasing the per-depositor insurance limit to accommodate inflation. This limit has been raised several times over the years, with significant increases in 1980 and 2008.
Here are some key milestones in the history of the FDIC's insurance limits:
The temporary increase in the deposit insurance limit from $100,000 to $250,000 was effective from October 3, 2008, through December 31, 2010, and was later made permanent by the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
FDIC

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is a vital part of the US financial system. It was created in 1933 in response to the thousands of bank failures that occurred in the 1920s and early 1930s.
The FDIC preserves and promotes public confidence in the US financial system by insuring deposits in banks and thrift institutions for at least $250,000. It also identifies, monitors, and addresses risks to the deposit insurance funds, and limits the effect on the economy and the financial system when a bank or thrift institution fails.
Deposits held in different categories of ownership, such as single or joint accounts, may be separately insured. This means that if you have a joint account with someone, your individual deposits are insured up to $250,000.
The FDIC provides separate coverage for retirement accounts, such as individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and Keoghs, insured up to $250,000. This is great news for people who have retirement savings accounts at banks and thrift institutions.
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The FDIC's Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE) can help you determine if you have adequate deposit insurance for your accounts. EDIE is also available in Spanish, which is a great resource for people who are not fluent in English.
It's essential to note that the FDIC does not insure securities, mutual funds, or similar types of investments that banks and thrift institutions may offer. If you're unsure what's insured and what's not, the FDIC's publication Insured or Not Insured? can help clarify things.
Here are some key points to remember about FDIC insurance:
- Deposits are insured up to $250,000.
- Joint accounts are insured separately.
- Retirement accounts, such as IRAs and Keoghs, are insured up to $250,000.
- FDIC insurance does not cover securities or mutual funds.
In summary, the FDIC plays a crucial role in protecting your deposits in banks and thrift institutions. By understanding how FDIC insurance works, you can have peace of mind knowing that your savings are secure.
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Banking Crises
Banking crises have been a recurring issue in the United States, with several major crises occurring throughout the country's history. The savings and loan crisis of the 1980s was a significant event that tested the federal deposit insurance system.
During this crisis, many savings and loan institutions, as well as commercial banks, faced insolvency, and the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (FSLIC) was unable to pay off all depositors. The crisis led to the creation of the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) and the eventual merger of the RTC into the FDIC in 1995.
The FDIC's Bank Insurance Fund was exhausted in 1990, but it received authority from Congress to borrow $15 billion to strengthen the fund, which was repaid by 1993.
The Dodd-Frank Act of 2010 created new authorities for the FDIC to address risks associated with systemically important financial institutions, including requiring them to submit resolution plans, or "living wills", in the event of their failure.
Here are the estimated losses from the savings and loan crisis:
The creation of the FDIC in 1933 was a response to the banking crises of the 1920s and 1930s, including the failure of over 10,000 banks between 1929 and 1933.
Resolution and Safety
Funds in savings and loan institutions are protected by a safety net, ensuring that your money is secure. This safety net is designed to prevent bank failures and protect depositors' funds.
Deposits are insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, which means you can have peace of mind knowing your savings are covered. This insurance is provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
Bank Insolvency Resolution
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has a long history of resolving bank insolvency. The FDIC's Bank Insurance Fund was exhausted in 1990, but it received authority from Congress to borrow through the Federal Financing Bank (FFB) to strengthen the fund.
This was a critical move, as the FDIC borrowed $15 billion to shore up the fund. By 1993, the FDIC had repaid the debt, demonstrating its ability to manage financial challenges.
The FDIC's experience during the savings and loan crisis of the 1980s and early 1990s was a major turning point in its history. The crisis led to the creation of the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC), which was later merged into the FDIC.
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The RTC was responsible for resolving failed thrifts, and its work ultimately resulted in estimated losses of $152.9 billion. The FDIC played a key role in addressing these losses and ensuring the stability of the financial system.
Here are some key facts about the FDIC's bank insolvency resolution efforts:
- Estimated total losses from FSLIC and RTC resolutions: $152.9 billion
- U.S. taxpayer losses: approximately $123.8 billion (81% of the total costs)
- FDIC's Bank Insurance Fund was exhausted in 1990 and borrowed $15 billion to strengthen the fund
- FDIC repaid the debt by 1993
The FDIC's experience during this period has informed its approach to bank insolvency resolution in the years since. Today, the FDIC is responsible for ensuring the stability of the financial system and protecting depositors' funds.
Safe
You can earn interest on excess cash balances by placing them into demand deposit accounts, money market deposit accounts, or both. This is a great way to make your money work for you.
The FDIC standard maximum deposit insurance amount is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category. This means that your deposits are insured up to $250,000.
Funds placed through IntraFi's network are divided into amounts under the standard FDIC maximum and placed with other institutions, each an FDIC-insured institution. This makes your deposit eligible for FDIC insurance at each member bank.
You don't pay a fee to use this service, and you receive just one consolidated, monthly account statement from the bank. You can also see online where your funds are at all times.
Funds are placed only in FDIC-insured institutions, and the bank acts as custodian for your deposits, with BNY Mellon as subcustodian. This provides an extra layer of security for your money.
Funds and Ownership
Funds in savings and loan institutions are protected by a combination of government guarantees and insurance. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) insures deposits up to $250,000.
In the event of a bank failure, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) steps in to cover deposits up to $250,000. This means that account holders can access their money without worrying about losing it.
The FDIC and NCUA work together to ensure that depositors are protected, giving them peace of mind and confidence in their financial institutions.
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Funds

The FDIC, or Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, has a unique way of funding its operations. It assesses premiums on each member bank, based on its balance of insured deposits and the degree of risk it poses.
These premiums are accumulated in a Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) that the FDIC uses to pay its operating costs and the depositors of failed banks. The DIF is fully invested in Treasury securities and earns interest, supplementing the premiums.
As of 2020, the amount of insured deposits was approximately $8.9 trillion, which required the FDIC to fund the DIF to at least 1.35% of all insured deposits. This equated to a fund requirement of $120 billion.
The FDIC has used its operating cash to meet insurance obligations directly in the past, particularly during the 2007-2008 financial crisis. It has also borrowed through the Federal Financing Bank to cover its expenses.
The FDIC has two separate reserve funds, the Bank Insurance Fund (BIF) and the Savings Association Insurance Fund (SAIF), which were merged into a single fund in 2006. This merger was a result of the Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005, signed into law by President George W. Bush.
The balance of the FDIC's Deposit Insurance Fund has increased every year since 2009, reaching $128.2 billion as of December 31, 2022.
Ownership Categories
There are seven distinct ownership categories for insured deposits, each with its own set of rules.
Single accounts are just that - accounts held in one person's name. Certain retirement accounts, including IRAs, also fall into this category.
Joint accounts are accounts held by multiple people with equal rights to withdraw. If you have a joint account with friends or family, this category applies.
Revocable and irrevocable trust accounts also have their own rules. If you have an account specified as "Payable on death" or "In trust for", this category is relevant.
Employee Benefit Plan accounts, which include pension plan deposits, are another category. If you have an account through your employer, this is the category that applies.
Corporation, partnership, and unincorporated association accounts also have their own rules. If you have an account in the name of a business, this category is relevant.
Government accounts, such as those held by government agencies or employees, also have their own set of rules.
Here's a breakdown of the ownership categories:
- Single accounts
- Certain retirement accounts (including IRAs)
- Joint accounts
- Revocable and irrevocable trust accounts
- Employee Benefit Plan accounts
- Corporation/partnership/unincorporated association accounts
- Government accounts
Frequently Asked Questions
What funds are protected by FDIC?
The FDIC protects deposits in checking accounts, savings accounts, money market deposit accounts, and certain types of time deposits, such as certificates of deposit. This protection applies to funds in these accounts up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank.
Sources
- https://www.fdic.gov/resources/deposit-insurance/faq
- https://www.rosedalefederal.com/extended-fdic-insurance
- https://dbf.georgia.gov/federal-deposit-insurance-corporation-fdic
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Deposit_Insurance_Corporation
- https://www.aba.com/advocacy/community-programs/consumer-resources/why-your-money-is-safer-in-a-bank
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