FDIC

Office address: 550 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20429
Website: fdic.gov
Year established: 1933
Company type: government agency
Employees: 5,600+ (full-time employees in 2025)
Expertise: deposit insurance, bank examination and supervision, financial institution regulation, failed bank resolution, consumer protection and compliance, community reinvestment oversight, receivership management
Parent company: US Government
Key people: Travis Hill (acting chair); Jonathan Gould and Russell Vought (directors); Matthew Reed (general counsel); Dana Wade, Alex LePore, and Leonard Chanin (deputies to the chair)
Financing status: N/A

Based in Washington, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation maintains stability in America's financial system. The FDIC insures deposits up to $250,000 per account and supervises nearly 3,000 banks. Since 1934, no depositor has lost insured funds, and the agency is funded entirely through premiums from member banks.

History of FDIC

Through the Banking Act of 1933, lawmakers created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to help Americans trust their banks again. Nearly 9,000 banks had collapsed between 1930 and 1933 due to panic withdrawals and unsound lending.

The FDIC began protecting deposits in 1934, initially covering up to $2,500 per account. By 1950, insured deposits had grown to $91 billion with coverage expanded to $10,000 per account.

Growth through economic turbulence

Inflation and rising interest rates throughout the 1960s and 1970s forced major changes in coverage limits. Coverage jumped to $20,000 per account in 1969 and doubled to $40,000 by 1974 due to economic strain.

The collapse of Franklin National Bank in 1974 also marked a turning point for the agency. With $3.6 billion in assets, Franklin's failure represented the largest single institution collapse in FDIC history to date.

Recovery and modern challenges

The 1980s brought widespread failure as nearly 1,300 savings and loans and over 1,600 banks collapsed nationwide. In 1984, Continental Illinois National Bank required a $1 billion FDIC bailout to prevent systemic collapse.

The FDIC's insurance fund fell below zero in 1991 due to significant losses. The agency then raised bank premiums sharply to rebuild reserves. Congress responded with reforms to strengthen oversight, and by 2004 the banking system had stabilized considerably.

FDIC's recent developments

The agency became the receiver after Silicon Valley Bank collapsed with a $42 billion deposit run in March 2023. It swiftly established Silicon Valley Bridge Bank to assume $119 billion in deposits and protect all depositors. The FDIC then extended the bidding process to maximize value before selecting First Citizens Bank.

The resolution protected all account holders, yet disputes arose over $1.9 billion in cash the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation withheld. SVB Financial sued the agency in July 2023 as it claimed that the withholding violated bankruptcy law and hindered reorganization. Such disputes demonstrate the FDIC's responsibility to balance depositor protection with asset recovery amid complex legal entanglements.

FDIC services

The FDIC provides deposit protection, bank supervision, and resolution services designed to strengthen financial system stability:

Deposit protection

• deposit insurance coverage: protects up to $250,000 per depositor account
• electronic deposit insurance estimator: calculates how much coverage applies individually

Supervision and compliance

• bank examinations: assess safety, soundness, and lending practices
• consumer protection reviews: verify compliance with federal borrowing laws
• community reinvestment monitoring: track lending to underserved neighborhoods

Resolution services

• failed bank resolution: manage institution closures and asset disposition
• bridge banking operations: temporarily assume deposits during transition periods
• receivership management: oversee asset liquidation and depositor payouts

Research and intelligence

• quarterly banking profile: document financial results for insured institutions
• unbanked household survey: measure banking system access and inclusion
• center for financial research: produce working papers on banking topics

Data and tools

• BankFind suite: searchable database of institution financial information
• bank data API: provide developer access to performance data
• market share reports: analyze competitive positioning among banks

Consumer resources

• consumer resource center: offer educational tools for informed decisions
• educational materials and news: deliver guidance on deposit protection

The FDIC also administers training programs and international seminars for banking professionals. Its commitment to transparency and research helps Americans maintain confidence in deposit-insured financial institutions.

Culture and corporate values

The FDIC states that guiding principles shape decisions and build public trust through ethical standards. The agency identifies six core values that guide organizational behavior:

• fairness
• accountability
• competence
• effectiveness
• integrity
• teamwork

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation also provides workplace benefits for its staff, such as:

• health insurance: Federal Employees Health Insurance Program with multiple plan options
• dental and vision coverage: Federal Employees Dental and Vision Program coverage
• life insurance options: group life insurance and long-term disability options
• FDIC Choice program: flexible benefits, alternative coverage, and parking accounts
• flexible spending accounts: allows pretax contributions for eligible expenses
• retirement options: Federal Retirement System, Thrift Savings Plan, and 401(k)
• PTO: holidays, annual vacation, and sick leave
• flexible work arrangements: telework and alternative work schedules
• competitive salaries: compensation based on position grade and location
• professional development: tuition assistance, mentoring, and career management support
• training programs: fellows programs and graduate education options

The FDIC's Office of Minority and Women Inclusion also manages diversity and equal employment opportunity programs. Applicants with disabilities can request accommodations from the FDIC's Disability Program Manager.

About Acting Chair Travis Hill and key people

Travis Hill became acting chair of the FDIC Board in January 2025 after serving as vice chair. Hill worked in the organization from 2018–22 and previously served as counsel for the US Senate. Hill earned a BS in economics and political science from Duke University and a JD from Georgetown.

The FDIC Board of Directors and senior executives guide the agency's operations and strategy:

• Jonathan Gould is a director and comptroller of the Currency, overseeing national bank regulations and FDIC matters
• Russell Vought is director and acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, protecting consumer financial interests
• Matthew Reed works as general counsel, providing legal counsel on emerging technology and anti-money laundering issues
• Dana Wade is deputy to the chair and chief of staff, formerly heading the Federal Housing Administration
• Alex LePore iss deputy to the chair for policy, overseeing regulatory initiatives and policy coordination
• Leonard Chanin works as deputy to the chair for consumer protection and innovation, advancing financial technology adoption

This leadership team works to maintain financial stability and protect depositors through coordinated policy development.

The future at FDIC

The agency publishes quarterly banking profiles to reveal financial system health to the public. Its Q3 2025 report showed net income growth of 13.5 percent and deposit insurance reserves at $150 billion. This reporting demonstrates the FDIC's supervisory role in maintaining depositor confidence despite emerging risks in commercial real estate.

For those protecting their savings, the FDIC offers important safeguards. The organization protects deposits in savings accounts and certificates of deposit up to $250,000 which make them safer choices for conservative investors.

This federal insurance removes the risk of losing principal and allows people to preserve capital during economic uncertainty. To explore more low-risk investment options suited to today's volatile markets, check out this comprehensive investment guide.

The latest FDIC news