Chase deposits are FDIC insured up to $250,000 per depositor, per account category, at each Chase bank location

Chase Bank is an FDIC member bank, which means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation backs your money if the bank fails. The standard coverage limit is $250,000 per depositor per account category. This applies to checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, and CDs held at Chase. If you have $300,000 in a Chase savings account, the FDIC covers $250,000 of it; the remaining $100,000 is not covered.

The key word is "per account category." If you have $250,000 in a Chase checking account and $250,000 in a Chase savings account at the same branch, both are fully covered because they are different account types. But if you have two Chase savings accounts at the same branch with $150,000 in each, the FDIC treats them as one account category and covers only $250,000 total across both.

FDIC coverage does not apply to investment products sold through Chase, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or brokerage accounts. It also does not cover safe deposit boxes, safety deposit box contents, or money you lend to other people through Chase services. If you hold these products at Chase, they are not protected by FDIC insurance.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase Bank is FDIC insured, and the standard limit is $250,000 per depositor per account category per bank location.
  • Different account types—checking, savings, money market, and CDs—are each covered separately up to $250,000, so you can have $1 million in coverage across four account types.
  • Multiple accounts of the same type at the same Chase branch are added together and covered as one account, not separately.
  • Investment products, brokerage accounts, and safe deposit boxes held through Chase are not FDIC insured.
  • If you have accounts at Chase Bank and Chase Bank USA (a different legal entity), each is insured separately up to $250,000.

How FDIC coverage works across multiple Chase accounts

The FDIC insures by account category, not by account number. If you open two savings accounts at the same Chase branch and put $150,000 in each, the FDIC sees one savings account category with $300,000 total and covers only $250,000. The second $50,000 is uninsured.

However, if you open a savings account and a checking account at the same Chase branch, each is a separate category. You get $250,000 coverage on the savings account and $250,000 on the checking account, for $500,000 total. A money market account is its own category, and a CD is its own category, so you can layer coverage across all four types.

If you are married and both spouses have their names on the same account, the FDIC covers up to $250,000 for the account as a whole, not $250,000 per person. But if you and your spouse each have individual accounts in your own names at the same Chase branch, each account is covered separately up to $250,000. A joint account is a separate category from individual accounts, so a married couple can have $250,000 in an individual checking account, $250,000 in a joint checking account, and $250,000 in an individual savings account—all at the same Chase branch, all fully covered.

Coverage limits for different account types at Chase

Chase offers several account types, and each has its own FDIC coverage bucket. A standard checking account, savings account, money market account, and CD each count separately toward the $250,000 limit. If you max out all four, you have $1 million in FDIC coverage at a single Chase branch.

Retirement accounts held at Chase—such as traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and SEP IRAs—are covered separately from regular accounts. An IRA at Chase is insured up to $250,000 per depositor, and that coverage does not reduce your coverage on a regular Chase savings account. So you could have $250,000 in a Chase savings account and $250,000 in a Chase IRA, both fully covered.

Trust accounts and accounts held in the name of a business are also separate categories. If you set up a revocable living trust and fund a Chase account in the trust's name, that account is covered up to $250,000 separately from your personal accounts. A sole proprietorship account is covered separately from a corporation account, which is covered separately from an LLC account.

What happens if Chase Bank fails

If Chase Bank becomes insolvent and closes, the FDIC steps in as the insurer of last resort. The FDIC does not take over the bank's operations; instead, it arranges for another bank to acquire Chase's deposits and customer accounts, or it pays out depositors directly. In most cases, the FDIC moves your covered deposits to a receiving bank within a few business days, and you can access your money as if nothing happened.

The FDIC has a track record of moving quickly. When a bank fails, the FDIC typically has a replacement bank ready before the failed bank's doors close. Your debit card usually continues to work, and you can withdraw cash or make transfers the same day. If no bank takes over your account, the FDIC mails you a check for your covered balance within a few weeks.

Amounts over $250,000 per category are not protected. If you have $300,000 in a Chase savings account when the bank fails, you receive $250,000 from the FDIC and lose $50,000. This is why some people spread large sums across multiple banks or multiple account categories.

Chase Bank locations and separate FDIC coverage

The FDIC insures by bank location, not by branch. Chase Bank and Chase Bank USA are separate legal entities, so accounts at Chase Bank are insured separately from accounts at Chase Bank USA. If you have $250,000 at a Chase Bank branch and $250,000 at a Chase Bank USA branch, both are fully covered because they are different banks under FDIC rules.

However, all Chase Bank branches are treated as one bank for FDIC purposes. If you have accounts at a Chase branch in New York and a Chase branch in California, they are both part of Chase Bank and are added together for coverage. You do not get separate $250,000 limits for each branch.

When you open an account at Chase, confirm which legal entity you are banking with. Most Chase branches are part of Chase Bank, but some older accounts or special products may be held at Chase Bank USA. Your account statement or the bank's website will show which entity holds your account.

Investment and brokerage products at Chase are not FDIC insured

Chase offers brokerage services through Chase Investment Services, and accounts opened for stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or ETFs are not covered by FDIC insurance. These accounts are instead protected by SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation), which covers up to $500,000 per customer per brokerage firm, with a $250,000 limit on cash. SIPC protection is different from FDIC protection and applies only if the brokerage firm fails, not if the investments themselves lose value.

If you buy a CD through Chase's brokerage platform rather than directly from Chase Bank, that CD may not be FDIC insured. Brokered CDs are often insured, but the coverage depends on the issuing bank and how the CD is registered. Before buying a brokered CD, ask Chase whether it is FDIC insured and under which bank's coverage.

Safe deposit boxes and their contents are not FDIC insured. If you store valuables, documents, or cash in a Chase safe deposit box, the FDIC does not cover them if the box is damaged, lost, or stolen. Some homeowners or renters insurance policies cover safe deposit box contents, so check your insurance.

How to verify your FDIC coverage at Chase

The FDIC provides a tool called the FDIC Coverage Calculator on its website (fdic.gov). You enter your Chase account details—account type, balance, and whether it is individual, joint, or in trust—and the calculator tells you exactly how much is covered. This is the most reliable way to confirm your coverage before you deposit large sums.

You can also call Chase directly and ask which legal entity holds your account and what your coverage limit is. Chase customer service can confirm whether your account is at Chase Bank or Chase Bank USA and whether any special account features affect your coverage. Keep a record of this conversation in case you need to file a claim later.

If you have more than $250,000 to deposit, consider splitting it across multiple account types (checking, savings, money market, CD) or opening accounts at different banks. This is a common strategy for people with large cash reserves who want full FDIC coverage on every dollar.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I have $500,000 at Chase, how much is insured?

It depends on how the money is split. If all $500,000 is in one savings account, only $250,000 is covered. If you have $250,000 in a savings account and $250,000 in a checking account, both are fully covered. If you have $250,000 in a savings account and $250,000 in a CD, both are fully covered. The FDIC covers each account category separately.

Are joint accounts at Chase covered differently?

Yes. A joint account is a separate category from individual accounts. If you and your spouse each have $250,000 in individual savings accounts and $250,000 in a joint savings account at the same Chase branch, all three accounts are fully covered—$750,000 total. The joint account is insured as one unit, not $250,000 per person.

Is my Chase IRA covered by FDIC insurance?

Yes. Chase IRAs are FDIC insured up to $250,000 per depositor, and that coverage is separate from your regular Chase accounts. You can have $250,000 in a Chase savings account and $250,000 in a Chase IRA, both fully covered at the same branch.

What if I have a Chase brokerage account with cash in it?

Cash held in a Chase brokerage account is not FDIC insured. It is covered by SIPC up to $250,000 per customer. If you want FDIC coverage on cash, keep it in a Chase Bank deposit account (checking, savings, or money market), not in a brokerage account.

Does FDIC coverage apply if my Chase account is hacked?

No. FDIC coverage applies only if Chase Bank fails as an institution. If your account is hacked or you are a victim of fraud, that is a separate issue handled by Chase's fraud protection and your rights under banking law, not by FDIC insurance. Report fraud to Chase immediately.