What is FDIC insurance?

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, commonly known as FDIC, is an independent agency of the federal government that insures depositors at FDIC member banks for at least $250,000 for certain account types. The FDIC is designed to protect account holders in the event of bank failures. The FDIC was created in 1933 in response to the bank failures that occurred during the great depression. 

The deposits must meet three criteria to be insured by the government:

  • The account must be held at a FDIC insured institution, such as Truist Bank.
  • The product must be an insured product.
  • The standard maximum deposit insurance amount is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category. A depositor may qualify for insurance coverage above this amount in some cases.

What is and isn't covered by FDIC?

What's covered by FDIC?
  • Checking accounts
  • Savings accounts
  • Money Market Accounts (MMAs)
  • Certificates of Deposit (CDs)
  • Cashier's checks and money orders
What's not covered by FDIC?
  • Money invested in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds
  • Annuities
  • Life insurance policies
  • Safe deposit boxes and their content
  • Municipal securities

U.S. treasury bills, bonds, and notes aren’t covered by FDIC insurance, but they are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government.

FDIC deposit insurance limits and coverage

The FDIC provides insurance coverage up to $250,000 for each depositor, per FDIC-insured institution and per ownership category. The FDIC offers distinct coverage for deposits in different account ownership categories. The coverage limits in the chart below pertain to the total of all deposits an account holder has in the ownership categories at each FDIC insured bank.

FDIC deposit insurance coverage limits (ownership categories)
Ownership types Coverage limits
Single accounts (owned by one person) $250,000 per owner
Joint accounts (two or more persons) $250,000 per co-owner
IRA and certain retirement accounts $250,000 per owner
Revocable trust accounts $250,000 per owner per beneficiary up to 5 beneficiaries (more coverage available with six or more beneficiaries subject to specific limitations and requirements)
Irrevocable trust accounts $250,000 for non-contingent interest of each unique beneficiary. Funds representing contingent interests are insured up to $250,000 in the aggregate
Employee benefit plan accounts
*A deposit of a pension plan, defined benefit plan or other employee benefit plan that isn’t self-directed.
$250,000 for the non-contingent, ascertainable interest of each plan participant
Corporation, partnership and unincorporated association and accounts $250,000 per corporation, partnership or unincorporated association
Government accounts
*Account owned by the U.S including federal agencies.
*Account owned by any state, county, municipality, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or other government territories.
*Account owned by a Native American tribe.
$250,000 per official custodian

Key takeaways about FDIC insurance

For more detailed information from the FDIC about deposit insurance call the FDIC toll free at 877-ASK-FDIC (877-275-3342.) 

Safeguarding your money

If your federally insured bank fails, FDIC insurance keeps your money safe. The FDIC insures up to $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured institution and per ownership category. If a bank is FDIC insured, it will have a FDIC logo on its website.

Calculate your insurance coverage

Use the FDIC’s Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator at https://edie.fdic.gov/calculator.html.

Find out if your bank is FDIC insured 

Search for your bank on the FDIC’s BankFind tool.
Truist Bank is a member of the FDIC.

Frequently asked questions

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The account categories eligible for FDIC protection include:

  • Checking Accounts
  • Negotiable Order of Withdrawal (NOW) Accounts
  • Savings Accounts
  • Money Market Accounts (MMAs)
  • Time Deposits, such as Certificates of Deposit (CDs)
  • Cashier's Checks, Money Orders, and other official items issued by a bank 

If your bank were to fail and not be FDIC insured, your deposits will not be covered. It is important to be at an FDIC insured bank because your deposits will be automatically covered up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution for each account ownership category.

  • Stocks
  • Bonds
  • Mutual Funds
  • Crypto Assets
  • Life Insurance Policies
  • Annuities
  • Municipal Securities
  • Safe deposit boxes and their contents
  • U.S. Treasury bills, bonds or notes (these are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government) 

The FDIC was established in 1933 in response to the bank failures during the Great Depression.

As of January 1, 2013, all a depositor’s accounts at an insured depository institution, including noninterest-bearing transaction accounts, will be insured by the FDIC up to the standard maximum deposit insurance amount ($250,000) per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category.

No. Coverage is automatic if the account is an FDIC insured product held at a FDIC insured institution such as Truist.

The FDIC provides insurance coverage up to $250,000 for each depositor, per FDIC-insured institution and per ownership category. The FDIC offers distinct coverage for deposits in different account ownership categories. Coverage limits pertain to the total of all deposits an account holder has in the ownership categories at each FDIC-insured bank. Use the FDIC’s Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator to estimate your coverage (https://edie.fdic.gov/calculator.html). 

In the rare case a bank fails, such as by losing the ability to pay bank debts or return deposits to customers, a bank regulator closes that institution.