The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent agency of the United States government that protects against the loss of insured deposits if an FDIC-insured bank or savings association fails. FDIC deposit insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. Since the FDIC was established, no depositor has ever lost a single penny of FDIC-insured funds.

FDIC insurance covers funds in deposit accounts, including checking and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs). FDIC insurance does not, however, cover other financial products and services that insured banks may offer, such as stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, life insurance policies, annuities or municipal securities.

There is no need for depositors to apply for FDIC insurance or even to request it. Coverage is automatic.

If you and your family have $250,000 or less in all of your deposit accounts at the same insured bank, you do not need to worry about your insurance coverage –your deposits are fully insured.

To ensure funds are fully protected, depositors should understand their coverage limits. The FDIC provides separate coverage for deposits held in different account ownership categories. The coverage limits shown in the chart below refer to the total of all deposits that an accountholder has in the same ownership categories at each FDIC-insured bank. The chart shows only the most common ownership categories that apply to individual and family deposits, and assumes that all FDIC requirements are met.

Basic FDIC Deposit Insurance Coverage Limits^*

You can calculate your insurance coverage using the FDIC's Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE) which is available at www.fdic.gov/edie.

If you have questions about FDIC coverage limits and requirements, visit www.myFDICinsurance.gov, call toll-free 1-877-ASK-FDIC or ask a representative at your bank.

^* On January 1, 2010, the standard coverage limit will return to $100,000 for all deposit categories except IRAs and Certain Retirement Accounts, which will continue to be insured up to $250,000 per owner.

^** Unlimited deposit insurance coverage is available through December 31, 2009, for non-interest bearing transaction accounts at institutions participating in FDIC’s Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program.

If you have questions about FDIC coverage limits and requirements, visit www.myFDICinsurance.gov, call toll-free 1-877-ASK-FDIC or ask a representative at your bank.