September Personal Finance Newsletter
September 17, 2010 by Jean Keener, CFP, CRPC, CFDS · Leave a Comment
The September 2010 personal finance newsletter is now available. It includes information on opportunities unique to 2010 for year-end tax planning, tips on teaching your college-age child about money, how a stronger dollar affects your portfolio, information on FDIC insurance now that higher limits are permanent, and a market update. Click here to read the newsletter.
July 2009 Newsletter
July 1, 2009 by Jean Keener, CFP, CRPC, CFDS · Leave a Comment
The July 2009 newsletter is now available online. It reviews some blog information on FDIC insurance limits, establishing an emergency fund, and down market estate planning opportunities. It also covers new information on whether or not you should refinance your mortgage and considerations in diversifying your investments. Click here to read it.
$250,000 Bank Deposit Account Insurance Limit Extended
June 8, 2009 by Jean Keener, CFP, CRPC, CFDS · Leave a Comment
On May 20, 2009, President Obama signed the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009. Included in the legislation was a provision that postpones until January 1, 2014 the expiration of the $250,000 limit on Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) insurance for bank deposit accounts. The limit was raised in 2008 from $100,000 per depositor at a given institution, and had been scheduled to revert to the previous $100,000 limit on December 31, 2009.
The legislation covers all account categories other than: (1) IRAs and certain other retirement accounts, which will continue to be covered up to $250,000 per owner after January 1, 2014, and (2) non-interest bearing transaction deposit accounts, which temporarily have unlimited coverage and are insured under the Transaction Account Guarantee Program, which is still scheduled to expire after December 31, 2009.
The Act also extended to January 1, 2014 the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund’s $250,000 share insurance coverage of accounts at credit unions.
FDIC limits changed as of October 3, 2008
November 2, 2008 by Jean Keener, CFP, CRPC, CFDS · Leave a Comment
October 7, 2008
The bail-out bill that passed congress last week included a provision to increase the FDIC coverage limits from $100,000 to $250,000 per individual per bank.
This increase went into effect immediately, but it’s important to note that it’s only valid through the end of 2009. For that reason, if you are keeping deposits in different banks to ensure FDIC coverage, you may not want to consolidate them now because you would likely just need to move everything around again next year.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent agency of the United States government that protects against the loss of insured deposits if an FDIC-insured bank or savings association fails. FDIC deposit insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. Since the FDIC was established, no depositor has ever lost a single penny of FDIC-insured funds.
FDIC insurance covers funds in deposit accounts, including checking and savings accounts, money market deposit accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs). FDIC insurance does not, however, cover other financial products and services that insured banks may offer, such as stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, life insurance policies, annuities or municipal securities.
There is no need for depositors to apply for FDIC insurance or even to request it. Coverage is automatic.
To ensure funds are fully protected, depositors should understand their deposit insurance coverage limits. The FDIC provides separate insurance coverage for deposits held in different ownership categories such as single accounts, joint accounts, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and trust accounts.
Basic FDIC Deposit Insurance Coverage Limits*
Single Accounts (owned by one person)
$250,000 per owner**
Joint Accounts (two or more persons) $250,000 per co-owner**
IRAs and certain other retirement accounts $250,000 per owner
Trust Accounts $250,000 per owner per beneficiary subject to specific limitations and requirements**
*These deposit insurance coverage limits refer to the total of all deposits that an accountholder (or accountholders) has at each FDIC-insured bank. The listing above shows only the most common ownership categories that apply to individual and family deposits, and assumes that all FDIC requirements are met.
**The legislation authorizing the increase in deposit insurance coverage limits makes the change effective October 3, 2008, through December 31, 2009.
For more information on FDIC insurance, visit www.fdic.gov.