Deposits at an FDIC-insured bank are insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category. So a joint account owned by two people can be insured up to $500,000 at one bank: $250,000 for each co-owner’s share. Credit unions insured by the NCUA follow the same basic $250,000 rule. Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, money market funds, annuities and crypto are not insured, even when you buy them at a bank.
What does “per ownership category” mean?
The $250,000 limit applies separately to each way an account is owned. Your single accounts at one bank are added together and insured up to $250,000. Your share of joint accounts at the same bank has its own $250,000, and so do certain retirement accounts such as IRA deposits (FDIC: Deposit Insurance at a Glance).
| Ownership category | What it covers | Basic coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Single accounts | Accounts in one person’s name | $250,000 per owner, all single accounts together |
| Joint accounts | Accounts owned by two or more people | $250,000 per co-owner, for each person’s share of all joint accounts |
| Certain retirement accounts | IRA deposits and similar accounts | $250,000 per owner |
| Trust accounts | Revocable and irrevocable trusts, including payable-on-death (POD) accounts | $250,000 per beneficiary, counting up to five, so up to $1,250,000 per owner (rules in effect since April 1, 2024) |
Credit unions insured by the NCUA give each member at least $250,000, and a member’s share of all joint accounts is insured up to $250,000 (NCUA: Share Insurance Coverage). New NCUA rules for trust accounts take effect on December 1, 2026; until then the older rules apply (MyCreditUnion.gov).
Screen one bank in a minute
Add up your deposits at one bank, grouped by how each account is owned. The tool shows how much falls within the basic limits, using the FDIC rules above. It assumes equal shares among co-owners and eligible beneficiaries. It is a screen, not an insurance determination: use the FDIC’s official estimator for a definite answer.
Example: $180,000 single and $320,000 joint
Single: $180,000 of $250,000 used. Joint, 2 people: $320,000 of $500,000 used. All within the basic limits in this example.
| Category | Balance | Basic limit | Over the limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $180,000 | $250,000 | $0 |
| Joint (2 people) | $320,000 | $500,000 | $0 |
| IRA deposits | $0 | $250,000 | $0 |
| Trust or POD (2 beneficiaries) | $0 | $500,000 | $0 |
Screening only, for one bank, using FDIC rules. Each account counts in one category. The trust line assumes one owner. For credit unions, the NCUA’s trust rules differ until December 1, 2026. For an official answer, use the FDIC’s EDIE estimator or the NCUA’s estimator.
How do I know if my bank is FDIC insured?
Search for it in the FDIC’s BankFind Suite. Look up the bank’s legal name: coverage is per bank, not per brand, so two online “banks” can be names of the same institution. For a credit union, use the NCUA’s tools on ncua.gov.
What isn’t covered by FDIC insurance?
The FDIC lists stocks, bonds, mutual funds, money market funds, annuities, life insurance, crypto assets, safe deposit box contents, municipal securities and U.S. Treasury securities as not insured (FDIC: Understanding Deposit Insurance). Treasury securities have a different kind of protection: they are backed by the U.S. government. See which protection applies to each kind of account.
Is the cash in my brokerage or banking app insured?
Sometimes. Many brokerages “sweep” uninvested cash into deposits at one or more banks, which can be FDIC insured up to the limit at each bank, and that cash counts toward the limit together with your other deposits at the same bank (SEC investor bulletin). If an app that is not itself a bank holds your money, FDIC insurance does not protect you if the app company fails (FDIC). Ask: “Which insured bank actually holds my money?”
Are brokered CDs FDIC insured?
A CD bought through a brokerage is insured at the bank that issued it, up to the limits. It can still lose value if you sell it before it matures, and some can be “called” early by the bank (SEC investor bulletin).
What happens if a bank fails?
The FDIC says it pays insured deposits within a few days after a bank closes, usually the next business day (FDIC FAQ).
Common questions
Is a joint account insured for $500,000?
A joint account owned by two people is insured up to $250,000 for each co-owner’s share of all their joint accounts at that bank, so up to $500,000 for two people with equal shares.
Does the $250,000 limit apply per account?
No. It applies per depositor, per bank, per ownership category. Several single accounts at one bank are added together.
Are IRAs FDIC insured?
Deposits held in an IRA at a bank, such as an IRA CD, are insured up to $250,000 per owner in the certain-retirement-accounts category. Stocks or funds held in an IRA are not FDIC insured.
Sources
Each source was checked on October 8, 2026. Rules and limits can change; when it matters, check the source.
- FDIC: Understanding Deposit Insurance, updated April 1, 2024
- FDIC: Deposit Insurance at a Glance, updated April 1, 2024
- FDIC: Deposit Insurance FAQs, updated April 1, 2024
- FDIC: Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE)
- FDIC: BankFind Suite
- FDIC: Banking with third-party apps, updated May 31, 2024
- NCUA: Share Insurance Coverage, updated May 20, 2025
- NCUA / MyCreditUnion.gov: Share Insurance (trust account rule change), updated February 4, 2025
- NCUA / MyCreditUnion.gov: Share Insurance Estimator
- SEC Office of Investor Education: Cash Sweep Programs: Uninvested Cash in Your Investment Accounts, updated May 14, 2025
- SEC Office of Investor Education: Brokered CDs – Investor Bulletin, updated November 30, 2023
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