Understanding FDIC Deposit Insurance
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent federal agency created in 1933 to promote public confidence and stability in the nation’s banking system. The FDIC protects depositors' funds in the unlikely event of the financial failure of their bank or savings institution. FDIC deposit insurance covers the balance of each depositor's account, dollar-for-dollar, up to the insurance limit, including principal and any accrued interest through the date of the insured bank's closing. In the FDIC’s 75-year history, no customer has ever lost a single penny of insured deposits. The following frequently asked questions provide details on FDIC insurance and what happens in the unlikely event of a bank failure.
What is the FDIC insurance amount?
The basic insurance amount is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank. This includes principal and accrued interest up to a total of $250,000. The $250,000 amount applies to all depositors of an insured bank. The standard insurance amount of $250,000 per depositor is in effect through December 31, 2013. On January 1, 2014, the standard insurance amount will return to $100,000 per depositor for all account categories except IRAs and other certain retirement accounts, which will remain at $250,000 per depositor.
Deposits in separate branches of an insured bank are not separately insured. Deposits in one insured bank are insured separately from deposits in another insured bank.
Deposits maintained in different categories of legal ownership at the same bank can be separately insured. Therefore, it is possible to have deposits of more than $250,000 at one insured bank and still be fully insured. For more information on deposit insurance coverage, see the FDIC’s brochure “Your Insured Deposits” which can be accessed at www.fdic.gov/deposit/deposits/insured
Who does the FDIC insure?
Any person or entity can have FDIC insurance on a deposit. A depositor does not have to be a citizen, or even a resident of the United States. FDIC insurance only protects depositors, although some depositors may also be creditors or shareholders of an insured bank.
What does FDIC deposit insurance cover?
FDIC insurance covers deposits received at an insured bank. Types of deposit products include checking, NOW, and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts (MMDA), and time deposits such as certificates of deposit (CDs). The FDIC does not insure safe deposit boxes or their contents. In the event of a bank failure, the FDIC in most cases arranges for an acquiring bank to take over the failed bank's offices, including locations with safe deposit boxes. If no acquirer is found, boxholders would be sent instructions for removing the contents of their boxes.
What is a bank failure?
A bank failure is the closing of a bank by a federal or state banking regulatory agency. Generally, a bank is closed when it is unable to meet its obligations to depositors and others. The following information deals with the failure of “insured banks.” The term “insured bank” means a bank insured by FDIC, including banks chartered by the federal government as well as most banks chartered by the state governments. An insured bank must display an official FDIC sign at each teller window.
How does the FDIC resolve a closed bank?
In the unlikely event of a bank failure, the FDIC acts quickly to protect insured depositors by one of two methods:
- Purchase and Assumption Transaction. This is the preferred and most common method, under which a healthy bank assumes the insured deposits of the failed bank. Insured depositors of the failed bank immediately become depositors of the assuming bank and have access to their insured funds. The assuming bank may also purchase loans and other assets of the failed bank.
- Deposit Payoff. When there is no open bank acquirer for the deposits, the FDIC will pay the depositor directly by check up to the insured balance in each account. Such payments usually begin within a few days after the bank closing.
When can depositors expect to receive their money?
Federal law requires the FDIC to make payments of insured deposits "as soon as possible" upon the failure of an insured institution. While every bank failure is unique, there are standard policies and procedures that the FDIC follows in making deposit insurance payments. It is the FDIC's goal to make deposit insurance payments within two business day of the failure of the insured institution.
Note: Some deposits that require supplemental documentation from the depositors, such as accounts linked to a formal written trust agreement, funds placed by a fiduciary on behalf of an owner such as a deposit broker or deposits placed by an administrator of an employee benefit plan may take a little longer. The timing of the completion of the deposit insurance determination is based solely on the depositor providing the documentation needed by the FDIC to determine insurance coverage.
How are depositors notified when a bank has been closed?
The FDIC notifies each depositor in writing using the depositor's address on record with the bank. This notification is mailed immediately after the bank closes.
When the failed bank is acquired by another bank; the assuming bank also notifies the depositors. This notification usually is mailed with the first bank statement after the assumption.
Every effort also is made to inform the public through the news media, town meetings, and notices posted at the bank.
What is the source of funding used by the FDIC to pay insured depositors of a failed bank?
The FDIC’s deposit insurance fund consists of premiums already paid by insured banks and interest earnings on its investment portfolio of U.S. Treasury securities. No federal or state tax revenues are involved.
For more information:
For more information about deposit insurance, visit www.fdic.gov/deposit or contact the FDIC toll free at 1-877-ASK-FDIC (1-877-275-3342) from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern Time) Saturday and Sunday. The FDIC also offers a hearing impaired line at (800) 925-4618.
