Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent federal agency that provides deposit insurance to protect depositors in case of bank failures. Here are some answers to your questions:

  1. What does it do? The FDIC’s main role is to insure deposits at banks and savings institutions in case the institutions fail. If a bank fails, the FDIC will step in and either reimburse depositors for their losses up to a certain limit or transfer the failed bank’s deposits to a healthy bank. The FDIC also examines and supervises banks for safety and soundness.
  2. Who does it report to? The FDIC is an independent agency and reports to the Congress.
  3. Does it regulate banks? Yes, the FDIC examines and supervises banks to ensure they are safe and sound.
  4. Does the FDIC print its own money? No, the FDIC does not print money. It is funded by premiums that banks and savings institutions pay for deposit insurance coverage.
  5. Is the FDIC an insurance company? Yes, the FDIC is essentially an insurance company that provides deposit insurance to protect depositors.
  6. Is the FDIC a bank? No, the FDIC is not a bank. It is a government agency that regulates and insures banks.
  7. Is the FDIC like a pooled fund? Yes, the FDIC operates a pooled fund that is used to pay insured deposits in the event of a bank failure.
  8. How does the FDIC get its money? The FDIC is funded by premiums that banks and savings institutions pay for deposit insurance coverage. These premiums are calculated based on a formula that takes into account the amount of deposits insured, the riskiness of the institution, and other factors.
  9. What is the formula for FDIC insurance premiums? The formula for calculating FDIC insurance premiums is complex and takes into account a number of factors, including the institution’s total deposits, the level of risk it poses to the insurance fund, and the amount of any past losses it has incurred. The specific details of the formula can be found on the FDIC’s website.

For example, let’s say a bank has $100 million in deposits and is considered to be a moderate-risk institution. The bank would be required to pay an annual premium to the FDIC based on a percentage of its total deposits. Let’s say the premium rate is 10 basis points (0.10%) for moderate-risk institutions. In this case, the bank would be required to pay an annual premium of $100,000 (0.10% x $100 million) to the FDIC for deposit insurance coverage.

This page was last updated on December 2, 2024.