How can I be sure my money is safe in my bank account? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (2024)

FAQs

How can I be sure my money is safe in my bank account? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? ›

You can talk to your bank to confirm your coverage. To look up your account's FDIC protection, visit the Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator or call the FDIC Call Center at (877) 275-3342 (877-ASK-FDIC). For the hearing impaired, call (800) 877-8339.

Having your money at an FDIC-insured bank will protect your money in case of a bank failure – as long your balances are within FDIC limits and following the FDIC's rules.

FDIC Insurance

Most deposits in banks are insured dollar-for-dollar by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. This insurance covers your principal and any interest you're owed through the date of your bank's default up to $250,000 in combined total balances.

FDIC insurance coverage is automatic when you open a deposit account at an FDIC-insured bank. You can confirm that your bank is insured by searching for it in the BankFind tool available on our website at www.fdic.gov or you can call the FDIC at 1-877-ASK-FDIC (1-877-275-3342).

The FDIC provides deposit insurance to protect your money in the event of a bank failure. Your deposits are automatically insured to at least $250,000 at each FDIC-insured bank.

We protect certain qualifying temporary high balances up to £1 million for six months from when the amount was first deposited. See more details and frequently asked questions on our banks and building societies protection page. You don't need to do anything – FSCS will compensate you automatically.

A focus on FDIC insurance and Treasury-only money market or bond fund options can help safeguard investments when a banking crisis threatens.

Millionaires can insure their money by depositing funds in FDIC-insured accounts, NCUA-insured accounts, through IntraFi Network Deposits, or through cash management accounts. They may also allocate some of their cash to low-risk investments, such as Treasury securities or government bonds.

NOTE ON BENEFICIARIES: WHILE SOME SELF-DIRECTED RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS, LIKE IRAS, PERMIT THE OWNER TO NAME ONE OR MORE BENEFICIARIES, THE EXISTENCE OF BENEFICIARIES DOES NOT INCREASE THE AVAILABLE INSURANCE COVERAGE.

How do I make sure my money is safe? ›

1. Federal Bonds. The U.S. Treasury and Federal Reserve (Fed) would be more than happy to take your funds and issue you securities in return. A U.S. government bond still qualifies in most textbooks as a risk-free security.

JPMorgan Chase, the financial institution that owns Chase Bank, topped our experts' list because it's designated as the world's most systemically important bank on the 2023 G-SIB list. This designation means it has the highest loss absorbency requirements of any bank, providing more protection against financial crisis.

Where Is the Safest Place To Keep Cash? Deposit accounts—like savings accounts, CDs, MMAs, and checking accounts—are a safe place to keep money because consumer deposits are insured for up to $250,000, either by the FDIC or NCUA.

Certificate of deposit (CD)

Like a savings account, a certificate of deposit (CD) is often a safe place to keep your money. One big difference between a savings account and a CD is that a CD typically locks up your money for a set term. If you withdraw the cash early, you'll be charged a penalty.