- The standard insurance amount is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each ownership category.
- Checking, savings, money market deposit accounts and CDs can be covered; stocks, mutual funds and crypto assets are not FDIC deposits.
- Multiple accounts at the same bank do not automatically create separate coverage when they use the same ownership category.
- Use the FDIC BankFind and EDIE tools when balances or ownership structures are complex.
How FDIC insurance applies by depositor, bank and ownership category, including what is covered and what is not. The examples below are explanatory, not product quotes or promises of approval, savings, coverage or investment performance.
Start with the three-part rule
FDIC coverage is not simply “$250,000 per account.” The standard amount is applied per depositor, per insured bank, for each ownership category. All three parts matter.
If one person has a checking account, savings account and CD titled as single accounts at the same insured bank, those balances are generally added together for the single-account category. Moving part of the money from savings to a second CD at that same bank does not create a new category.
What the FDIC generally covers
| Commonly covered deposits | Not FDIC deposit products |
|---|---|
| Checking and savings accounts | Stocks and bonds |
| Money market deposit accounts | Mutual funds and brokerage money market funds |
| Certificates of deposit | Crypto assets and safe-deposit-box contents |
| Cashier’s checks and certain official bank items | Life insurance policies and annuities |
Coverage is automatic for eligible deposits at an FDIC-insured bank. The logo alone is not enough for a new fintech app: identify the insured bank that actually holds the deposit and review the account agreement.
A simple aggregation example
Suppose Jordan holds $80,000 in checking, $120,000 in savings and a $90,000 CD, all as single-owner deposits at the same insured bank. The category total is $290,000. Under the standard $250,000 amount, $40,000 would be above the standard limit unless another valid ownership category or arrangement applies.
This is an educational example, not a coverage determination. Trust accounts, joint accounts, retirement accounts and business accounts have specific requirements. Use the FDIC’s Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator for the actual titles and beneficiaries.
Checklist before a balance grows
- Confirm the institution in FDIC BankFind.
- List every deposit held at that legal bank, including accounts opened through different brands.
- Group deposits by ownership category rather than product name.
- Include accrued interest when estimating the balance.
- Use EDIE or contact the FDIC for complex trust or beneficiary structures.
Use the guide for a documented decision
Before acting on FDIC Deposit Insurance: Coverage Rules and Common Mistakes, write down the facts that apply to your household: the current balance or coverage, the relevant deadline, the exact contract or account terms and the amount your budget can support. Then compare those facts with the official sources below and the latest documents from the institution, insurer, employer or government agency involved.
- Save the dated statement, disclosure, policy or plan document used in the comparison.
- Separate confirmed terms from estimates, marketing language and assumptions.
- Record the question that remains unresolved and who can answer it.
- Recheck the numbers after a rate, balance, income, law or household change.
Frequently asked questions
Are separate branches treated as separate banks?
No. Branches of the same legal bank are part of one insured institution for coverage calculations.
Does a joint account receive only $250,000 total?
Joint-account coverage is calculated by ownership share and has specific requirements. Use EDIE for the actual account title and owners.
Is a brokerage money market fund FDIC-insured?
Generally no. A money market mutual fund is an investment product, not a bank money market deposit account.
Sources and methodology
Primary official materials used for this guide. Checked July 28, 2026. Rules, limits and product terms can change.
- FDIC — What We Do and the standard insurance amount ↗Checked July 28, 2026
- FDIC — Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator ↗Checked July 28, 2026