The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is an independent federal agency created in 1933 to promote public confidence and stability in the nation’s banking system.

Throughout its history, the FDIC has provided bank customers with prompt access to their insured deposits whenever an FDIC-insured bank or savings association has failed.

The FDIC official teller sign – posted at every insured bank and savings association across the country – is a symbol of confidence for Americans.

Customers know, when they see the FDIC official teller sign, that they will get back all of their insured deposits in the unlikely event their insured bank or savings association should fail.

How FDIC Insurance Works
Basic Insurance Limit
When a Bank Fails
FDIC's Deposit Insurance Fund
Full Faith and Credit of U.S. Government
For More Information About FDIC Deposit Insurance Coverage

How FDIC Insurance Works
Insurance is automatic whenever a customer opens any type of deposit account at an FDIC-insured bank or savings association, including checking, NOW and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts, and certificates of deposit (CDs). Insured banks and savings associations pay the FDIC for deposit insurance coverage.

The FDIC does not insure investments in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, life insurance policies, annuities, or municipal securities, even if a customer purchases them from an FDIC-insured bank or savings association.

Basic Insurance Limit
The basic insurance limit is $250,000 per depositor at each insured bank and savings association.

If you have more than $250,000 at one FDIC-insured institution, you should know that deposit accounts in different ownership categories are separately insured. This means you might qualify for more than $250,000 in coverage.

To learn more about the FDIC’s insurance coverage rules, refer to the resources listed at the end of this pamphlet, or visit the FDIC’s Web site at www.fdic.gov.

When a Bank Fails
The FDIC pays depositors within just a few days after an insured institution fails, usually the next business day. The FDIC protects depositors in one of two ways – by either:

• Facilitating a merger with another FDIC-insured institution, or
• Issuing a check to each depositor for the insured portion of their accounts at the closed institution.

FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund
The FDIC is funded by its member institutions through premiums and assessments paid on deposits. And, if ever needed, the FDIC can draw on a line of credit with the U.S. Treasury.

Full Faith and Credit of U.S. Government
FDIC deposit insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. This means that the resources of the United States government stand behind FDIC-insured depositors.

For More Information About FDIC Deposit Insurance Coverage

Calculate
Your insurance coverage using the FDIC’s Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator at: www.fdic.gov/edie

Read
Your Insured Deposits and other deposit insurance information at: www.fdic.gov/deposit/deposits

Call toll free
1-877-ASK-FDIC (1-877-275-3342) from 8 am until 8 pm (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday

Hearing Impaired Line: 1-800-925-4618

Email questions
Visit FDIC ’s Home Page and use the on-line Customer Assistance Form

Mail questions to
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
Attn: Deposit Insurance Outreach
550 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20429-9990