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.

The types of accounts that are covered include checking, savings, money market deposit and certificates of deposit. To find out if your bank is FDIC-insured, you can contact the bank and ask, look for an FDIC sign at the bank's premises, call the FDIC at 877-275-3342, or look up the bank in the FDIC BankFind directory.

If you want your funds insured by the FDIC, simply place your funds in a deposit account at an FDIC-insured bank and make sure that your deposit does not exceed the insurance limit for that ownership category.

Savings accounts are a safe place to keep your money because all deposits made by consumers are guaranteed by the FDIC for bank accounts or the NCUA for credit union accounts. Certificates of deposit (CDs) issued by banks and credit unions also carry deposit insurance.

The Bottom Line

As long as you do business with an FDIC-insured institution and keep less than $250,000 per account ownership category, your funds will be safe if your bank fails. However, you might face some minor inconveniences, such as waiting for a new debit card or updating your automatic payments.

Ensure Your Bank Is Insured

If a bank or credit union collapses, each depositor is covered for up to $250,000. If your bank or credit union isn't FDIC- or NCUA-insured, however, you won't have that guarantee, so make sure your funds are at an institution covered by deposit insurance.

You could also hide your assets in a safe deposit box or safe. It's probably a good idea to keep some amount of cash within easy reach for those times when you can't get to your financial institution but find yourself in a short-term liquidity crunch.

The good news is nearly all banks have insurance through the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). This protection covers $250,000 “per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category.” This insurance covers a range of deposit accounts, including checking, savings and money market accounts.

How do I make sure my bank transfer is safe? ›

If someone has your bank account and routing number, they could make unauthorized ACH transfers and payments, create counterfeit checks and even launder money through your account.

Earlier last year Silicon Valley Bank failed March 10, 2023, and then Signature Bank failed two days later, ending the unusual streak of more than 800 days without a bank failure. Before Citizens Bank failed in November 2023, Heartland Tri-State Bank failed July 28, 2023 and First Republic Bank failed May 1, 2023.

No. In fact, some banks won't allow deposits from anyone but you. If they do allow it, they will suppress any sensitive information on the receipt. If the deposits are direct, then no, the direct depositor cannot see your balance.

Your money is safe in a bank with FDIC insurance. A bank account is typically the safest place for your cash, since banks can be insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured institution, per ownership category.

It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Your money is safe in a bank, even during an economic decline like a recession. Up to $250,000 per depositor, per account ownership category, is protected by the FDIC or NCUA at a federally insured financial institution.

The government can seize money from your checking account only in specific circ*mstances and with due process. The most common reason for the government to seize funds from your account is to collect unpaid taxes, such as federal taxes, state taxes, or child support payments.

How much of my money is insured? The standard insurance amount is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category.