FDIC Insurance Coverage Calculator

About the FDIC Insurance Coverage Calculator

The FDIC Insurance Coverage Calculator helps you verify that your bank deposits are fully protected. Enter your balances across different ownership categories — single, joint, IRA, trust, and business — at a single institution and the calculator flags any amounts exceeding the $250,000 per-depositor, per-category insurance limit.

FDIC insurance is one of the most important consumer protections in banking, covering deposits up to $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category. But the rules can be confusing, especially for joint accounts, trusts, and retirement accounts that each have their own separate coverage limits.

This calculator simplifies the analysis by showing your total insured amount, total uninsured exposure, and exactly which categories are over the limit. Use it whenever you open a new account, receive a large deposit, or consolidate accounts. FDIC coverage caps at $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category. Joint accounts, trusts, and retirement accounts each receive separate coverage, and understanding these rules can significantly increase your total protected amount.

When This Page Helps

Most depositors assume their money is fully covered without checking. But high-balance customers, especially those with joint accounts, business accounts, or multiple account types at one bank, can easily exceed coverage limits without realizing it. It gives a clear per-category breakdown so you can restructure your deposits for full protection.

How to Use the Inputs

1. Enter your balance in each ownership category at a single bank.
2. Categories include: single (individual), joint, IRA/retirement, revocable trust, and business.
3. View total insured and uninsured amounts for each category.
4. Any category exceeding $250,000 is flagged as partially uninsured.
5. Adjust balances or consider spreading deposits across multiple banks.
6. For joint accounts, coverage is $250,000 per co-owner (total $500,000 for two owners).

Example Calculation

Tips & Best Practices

• Each ownership category has its own separate $250,000 limit at each bank.
• Joint accounts are insured up to $250,000 per co-owner, so a joint account with 2 owners has $500,000 coverage.
• Revocable trust accounts can be insured up to $250,000 per named beneficiary (up to 5 beneficiaries = $1.25M).
• If you exceed limits at one bank, consider opening accounts at a different FDIC-insured institution.
• NCUA insurance for credit unions works on identical principles with the same $250,000 limits.
• Brokerage sweep accounts may distribute deposits across multiple banks to stay within FDIC limits.

How FDIC Insurance Categories Work

FDIC coverage is calculated per ownership category, not per account. Having three individual savings accounts at the same bank does not give you $750,000 in coverage — all three are combined under the single ownership category, giving you a combined limit of $250,000. But a single account plus a joint account with your spouse are two separate categories, each with their own limit.

Maximizing Your Coverage

A married couple can structure deposits for maximum coverage. Between individual accounts, joint accounts, IRAs, and revocable trust designations, a couple can achieve over $1.5 million in FDIC coverage at a single institution. The key is using different legal ownership categories, each of which carries its own $250,000 limit.

When to Worry About FDIC Limits

For most people, the $250,000 limit is more than enough. But it becomes relevant after receiving a large inheritance, selling a home, or building substantial business cash reserves. During these transitions, deposits can temporarily spike above limits. This calculator helps you catch those situations before a potential bank failure puts your money at risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the FDIC insurance limit?

  The standard FDIC insurance limit is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, per ownership category. That permanent $250,000 standard is what this page models.

• Are joint accounts covered separately?

  Yes. Joint accounts are insured separately from individual accounts. Each co-owner is insured up to $250,000 for their share of the joint account. A joint account with two owners has up to $500,000 in coverage, separate from each owner's individual account coverage.

• Are IRAs and retirement accounts covered separately?

  Yes. IRAs, self-directed 401(k)s, and other self-directed retirement deposits are insured separately from other ownership categories. This means the same person can have $250,000 in a single account AND $250,000 in an IRA at the same bank, both fully insured.

• What happens if my bank fails and deposits exceed the limit?

  The FDIC insures deposits up to the coverage limit and pays those amounts typically within a few business days. Deposits exceeding the limit become unsecured claims against the failed bank and may receive partial recovery from the bank's remaining assets, but recovery is not guaranteed.

• Does FDIC cover investments like stocks or mutual funds?

  No. FDIC insurance only covers deposit accounts: checking, savings, money market deposit accounts, and CDs. Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and other investment products are not covered by FDIC, even if purchased through an FDIC-insured bank.

• How can I get more than $250,000 in coverage at one bank?

  Use different ownership categories. A person can have $250,000 in a single account, $250,000 per co-owner in joint accounts, $250,000 in retirement accounts, and $250,000 per trust beneficiary — all at the same bank, all separately insured. Alternatively, spread deposits across multiple FDIC-insured banks.