We are aware of several fraudulent emails circulating purporting to be from the FDIC. Subject lines include: “FDIC has officially named your bank a failed bank” and “FDIC Alert: you need to check your Bank Deposit Insurance Coverage.”
These e-mails and the associated Web site are fraudulent. Recipients should consider the intent of these e-mails as an attempt to collect personal or confidential information, some of which may be used to gain unauthorized access to on-line banking services or to conduct identity theft.
The FDIC does not issue unsolicited e-mails to consumers. Financial institutions and consumers should NOT follow the link in the fraudulent e-mail.
The FDIC has released a special alert confirming that these announcements are not from the FDIC.
The official FDIC website does contain useful information if you have questions about FDIC insurance; alternatively, we encourage you to contact your bank if you have questions about whether your deposited funds are insured.
You have the right to:
- Automatic deposit insurance coverage when you open a deposit account at an FDIC-insured bank, with no additional action on your part.
- Separate FDIC insurance coverage for deposits held at different FDIC-insured banks.
- Confirm that a bank is insured by using the FDIC’s Bank Find or by calling toll-free 1-877-ASK-FDIC.
- FDIC insurance coverage of at least $250,000 for your deposits at an FDIC-insured bank.*
- Deposit insurance coverage of more than $250,000 at a single bank when your deposits are held in different “ownership categories,” such as single, joint and trust accounts.*
- Confirm that your deposits are within the insurance limits by using EDIE The Estimator or by calling 1-877-ASK-FDIC.
- Be informed when a financial product offered by your bank is not covered by FDIC insurance.
- Prompt access to your insured deposits in the event your bank fails.
- Receive distributions from the receivership if you are an uninsured depositor, as the sale of assets permits.
- Sleep well, knowing that since the creation of the FDIC 75 years ago, no depositor has ever lost one penny of insured deposits.
* The standard insurance amount of $250,000 per depositor is in effect through December 31, 2013. On January 1, 2014, the standard insurance amount will return to $100,000 per depositor for all account categories except for IRAs and other certain retirement accounts, which will remain at $250,000 per depositor.
FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair has also published a video explaining how deposit insurance works, and assuring consumers that insured deposits are 100% safe.
Related Posts
- Revised Call Report for Transaction Account Guarantee - December 11, 2008
- Enhanced Deposit Insurance Extended Through 2013 - May 21, 2009
- FDIC Debt Guarantee and Interbank CDs - December 5, 2008
- Dodd-Frank’s Proposed FDIC Insurance Changes - July 1, 2010
- FDIC Expands Bidder List for Troubled Institutions - November 26, 2008
