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

Yes. Chase Bank is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which means your money in most Chase deposit accounts is protected if the bank fails. The FDIC insurance limit is $250,000 per depositor, per account category, per bank. This means if you have $250,000 or less in a Chase checking account, that full amount is covered. If you have $500,000 across two separate Chase bank locations, both accounts are fully covered because they are at different institutions.

The key word is "per account category." A Chase checking account, a Chase savings account, and a Chase money market account at the same branch are three separate categories, so each gets its own $250,000 of coverage. A joint account with your spouse counts as a different category from your individual account, so you each get $250,000 of coverage in the joint account on top of your individual coverage.

Chase investment accounts, brokerage accounts, and mutual funds are not covered by FDIC insurance. Those are protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) if Chase Securities fails, but that is a different insurance system with different limits. If you hold stocks, bonds, or mutual funds through Chase, ask your account representative which protection applies.

Key Takeaways

  • Chase checking, savings, and money market accounts are FDIC-insured up to $250,000 per account category per person.
  • Joint accounts, retirement accounts (IRAs), and trust accounts each count as separate categories and each receive their own $250,000 of coverage.
  • Chase investment and brokerage accounts are not FDIC-insured; they fall under SIPC protection instead.
  • If you have more than $250,000 in one account category at Chase, the amount over $250,000 is not insured and you lose it if the bank fails.
  • Money in Chase accounts at different bank locations counts toward separate FDIC insurance limits, so opening accounts at multiple Chase branches does not increase your coverage.

How FDIC coverage works across different account types

The FDIC divides accounts into categories, and each category gets its own $250,000 of insurance. If you have $100,000 in a Chase checking account and $200,000 in a Chase savings account under your name, both are fully covered because they are different categories. But if you have $300,000 in a Chase checking account, only $250,000 is insured and $50,000 is at risk.

Joint accounts are a separate category from individual accounts. If you and your spouse each have $250,000 in individual Chase checking accounts, you are both fully covered. If you also have a joint checking account with $250,000, that is covered too—for a total of $750,000 in coverage across the three accounts. The FDIC counts the joint account as belonging to both of you equally, so each of you has $250,000 of coverage in it.

Retirement accounts (IRAs, SEP-IRAs, and similar) are their own category. A Chase IRA with $250,000 is fully covered separately from a Chase checking account with $250,000. Trust accounts are also separate. If you are the trustee of a trust with $250,000 at Chase, that is covered independently of your personal accounts.

What happens if you exceed the $250,000 limit

If you have $300,000 in a single Chase savings account, the FDIC insures $250,000 and leaves $50,000 uninsured. If Chase Bank fails, you receive $250,000 from the FDIC and lose the remaining $50,000. The FDIC does not automatically move money between your accounts or categories to protect you—you have to manage your balances yourself.

If you need to keep more than $250,000 safe at a bank, you have two options. First, you can split the money across different account categories: put $250,000 in an individual checking account, $250,000 in a joint account with your spouse, and $250,000 in an IRA. Second, you can open accounts at different banks. Each bank's FDIC coverage is separate, so $250,000 at Chase and $250,000 at Bank of America are both fully insured.

Chase locations and FDIC coverage

Chase operates as a single bank for FDIC purposes, even though it has thousands of branches. Opening a checking account at a Chase branch in New York and a savings account at a Chase branch in California does not give you two separate $250,000 limits. Both accounts are at "Chase Bank" and count toward the same $250,000 limit for that account category.

However, if Chase acquired another bank and kept it operating under a different name, that bank would have its own FDIC coverage. Chase has acquired several banks over the years—Washington Mutual, Bear Stearns, and others—but most were merged into the main Chase entity. If you have accounts at a bank that Chase owns but operates under a separate charter and name, contact that bank directly to confirm its FDIC status.

FDIC coverage for CDs and money market accounts at Chase

Certificates of Deposit (CDs) at Chase are FDIC-insured the same way as savings accounts: up to $250,000 per depositor per account category. A $250,000 CD at Chase is fully covered. If you have a $200,000 CD and a $100,000 savings account, both under your name at Chase, they are in different categories and both are fully covered.

Chase money market accounts are also FDIC-insured as a separate category. A money market account with $250,000 is fully covered independently of a checking account with $250,000. Some people use money market accounts to hold extra cash because they earn slightly higher interest than savings accounts, and the FDIC coverage is identical.

What the FDIC does not cover at Chase

The FDIC covers deposits—money you put into the bank. It does not cover investment products. If you buy stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) through Chase, those are not FDIC-insured. Instead, they are protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), which covers up to $500,000 per customer per brokerage firm (with a $250,000 limit on cash balances).

Safe deposit boxes at Chase are not FDIC-insured. If you store jewelry, documents, or other valuables in a Chase safe deposit box and the bank fails, the FDIC does not reimburse you. You would need to file a claim against the bank's estate, which often recovers little or nothing. Safe deposit box contents are typically covered by homeowners insurance or a separate valuable items policy.

Cashier's checks and money orders purchased at Chase are not FDIC-insured once you leave the bank. The FDIC only covers money that remains on deposit at the bank. If you buy a cashier's check and hold it, you are holding a bank's promise to pay, not a deposit, and the FDIC does not protect it.

How to verify your Chase account is FDIC-insured

Log into your Chase online account or call Chase customer service at 1-800-935-9935 and ask which of your accounts are FDIC-insured. Chase can tell you the coverage category for each account and the limit that applies. You can also use the FDIC's online tool at fdic.gov/resources/deposit-insurance/ to search for Chase Bank and confirm its FDIC membership.

If you have more than $250,000 in one account category and want to protect all of it, contact Chase about opening accounts in different categories (joint, IRA, trust) or moving money to a different bank. Chase can also explain whether specific accounts like CDs or money market accounts are in the same category as your checking account.

Frequently Asked Questions

If Chase Bank fails, how do I get my FDIC-insured money back?

The FDIC takes over the bank and either arranges for another bank to buy your accounts or pays you directly. In most cases, you have access to your insured funds within a few business days. The FDIC has a claims process if you need to dispute the amount, but this is rare because the FDIC tracks all deposits electronically.

Does FDIC insurance cover money I owe Chase, like a loan or credit card balance?

No. FDIC insurance only protects deposits you hold at the bank. If you have a Chase loan or credit card debt, that is a liability you owe Chase, not a deposit, and the FDIC does not cover it. If Chase fails, your loan or credit card account would be transferred to another bank or handled through the bank's bankruptcy process.

If I have $250,000 in a Chase checking account and $250,000 in a Chase savings account, am I fully covered?

Yes. Checking and savings are separate FDIC categories, so each gets its own $250,000 of coverage. You are fully insured for $500,000 total across both accounts.

Does FDIC insurance cover my Chase credit card rewards or cash back?

No. Credit card rewards and cash back are not deposits; they are credits applied to your account by Chase. They are not separately insured by the FDIC. However, if you have a Chase deposit account and Chase fails, the FDIC protects the money in that deposit account up to the limit, regardless of whether you also have a credit card with the bank.

What if I have a Chase account in a different country?

FDIC insurance only covers deposits held at U.S. bank locations. If you have a Chase account at an international branch, it is not FDIC-insured. Contact Chase directly to learn what protections apply to accounts outside the United States.