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FDIC (Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation)

The FDIC is an independent U.S. government agency that insures deposits at member banks and thrifts up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution, per ownership category.

What Is the FDIC?

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) protects depositors if an FDIC-insured bank fails. Created in 1933 after the Great Depression bank runs, the FDIC insures deposits at over 4,700 U.S. banks.

FDIC Coverage Limits

  • $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category
  • Covers: checking, savings, money market, CDs
  • Does NOT cover: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, crypto, safe deposit box contents
  • Ownership Categories (Each Gets $250K)

    CategoryCoverage
    Single accounts$250,000
    Joint accounts$250,000 per co-owner
    Business accounts (LLC, Corp)$250,000 per entity
    Revocable trust$250,000 per beneficiary (up to 5)
    IRAs$250,000

    FDIC vs NCUA

  • FDIC: Insures bank deposits
  • NCUA: Insures credit union deposits
  • Both provide $250,000 coverage
  • Why FDIC Matters for Business

  • Verify your business bank is FDIC-insured at fdic.gov/BankFind
  • If your business holds >$250K, consider spreading across banks or using sweep networks
  • Fintech "bank accounts" may route through FDIC-insured partner banks — check the fine print
  • Related Terms

    Related Resources