- The standard limit is $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, for each account ownership category.
- Checking, savings, money market deposit accounts and CDs are insured. Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities, life insurance, safe deposit box contents, Treasury securities and crypto assets are not.
- Deposits in the same ownership category at the same bank are added together toward the limit.
- Use the FDIC’s BankFind Suite to confirm your bank is insured and the Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE) to calculate your coverage.
The rule in three parts
- The limit is per depositor, so it applies to each person who owns the money.
- It is per insured bank, so accounts at different FDIC-insured banks are covered separately.
- It is per ownership category, so deposits in different categories at the same bank can be insured separately. You may be covered for more than $250,000 in total at one bank.
The FDIC lists these categories: single accounts, joint accounts, certain retirement accounts such as IRAs, trust accounts, employee benefit plan accounts, accounts held by a corporation, partnership or unincorporated association, and government accounts. All of your deposits in the same category at the same bank are added together before the limit is applied. An ownership category is the legal way an account is held, such as in your name alone or in a trust.
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | List every bank where you hold deposits, and confirm each one is FDIC-insured in BankFind Suite. |
| 2 | For each bank, group your accounts by ownership category. |
| 3 | Add the balances in each group. Include interest that has been credited. |
| 4 | Compare each total with $250,000. Anything above it is uninsured. Check the result with EDIE. |
What is covered and what is not
| Insured | Not insured |
|---|---|
| Checking accounts | Stocks |
| NOW accounts | Bonds |
| Savings accounts | Mutual funds |
| Money market deposit accounts | Annuities and life insurance policies |
| Time deposits such as CDs | Safe deposit boxes and their contents |
| Cashier’s checks, money orders and other official items issued by a bank | U.S. Treasury bills, bonds or notes, and municipal securities |
| Crypto assets |
The FDIC says deposit insurance does not cover non-deposit investment products, even when an FDIC-insured bank offers them. A money market deposit account is insured; a money market mutual fund is a different product and is on the not-insured side. Insurance policies from an insurer are also a different thing from deposit insurance; see how insurance works. For what funds cost, see mutual fund and ETF fees, and to check who is selling them, how to check a financial advisor.
An example with numbers
This example is our own arithmetic using the rule above.
| Where the money is | Insured | Above the limit |
|---|---|---|
| $300,000 across checking, savings and a CD at one bank | $250,000 | $50,000 |
| $150,000 at Bank A and $150,000 at Bank B | $300,000 (each bank is separate) | $0 |
Spreading the same money across two insured banks removes the uninsured amount.
Moving some of it into a different ownership category at the same bank, such as a retirement account, can also add coverage. Use EDIE to see how your own accounts add up before you rely on this.How to check your bank and your coverage
- Confirm your bank is FDIC-insured with BankFind Suite at banks.data.fdic.gov/bankfind-suite/bankfind.
- Calculate coverage with the Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE) on the FDIC site.
- Ask questions through the FDIC Information and Support Center at ask.fdic.gov or 877-275-3342 (877-ASK-FDIC).
The FDIC page says coverage does not extend to the default or bankruptcy of an institution that is not FDIC-insured. Check BankFind instead of relying on a bank’s or an app’s marketing.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the FDIC insure?
The standard maximum is $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, for each account ownership category.
Can I have more than $250,000 insured at one bank?
Yes, if the deposits are in different ownership categories, such as single accounts and certain retirement accounts. Deposits in the same category are added together toward the limit.
Are CDs insured by the FDIC?
Yes. Time deposits such as certificates of deposit are insured deposit products.
Are stocks and mutual funds insured?
No. The FDIC says non-deposit investment products are not covered, even if an FDIC-insured bank sells them.
How do I find out if my bank is FDIC-insured?
Use the FDIC’s BankFind Suite, or call 877-275-3342.
Sources
Each source was opened and read on October 26, 2026. See how we verify.