Greater Fool glossary / Banking, Credit & Accounting

FDIC insurance

FDIC insurance is a government protection that guarantees your deposits at a bank up to $250,000 per account. If the bank fails, the FDIC will reimburse you for your money. This insurance applies to checking accounts, savings accounts, and certain other deposits.

In practice

You keep $200,000 in a savings account at a bank that goes out of business. The FDIC insurance covers your full $200,000, and you get your money back. However, if you had $300,000 in that same account, only $250,000 would be protected.

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