Higher FDIC Protection for Trust Accounts

As most people know, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is a federal government agency that insures customers of insured banks so that even if the bank fails, the depositors do not lose their money. The basic FDIC insurance amount is $250,000 per depositor per insured bank per account category.

The account categories include single-owner accounts, joint accounts, revocable trust accounts, and entity accounts. In other words, a single depositor can multiply their FDIC coverage by spreading their deposits across a single-owner account, joint account, etc. Of course, coverage can be multiplied by spreading deposits across multiple banks as well.

One benefit of establishing a revocable trust and opening a bank account in the name of the trust is that the maximum FDIC coverage for a revocable trust account at a single bank is $250,000 multiplied by the number of unique beneficiaries of the trust. To qualify for this increased coverage, the account name must indicate trust ownership, the trust beneficiaries must be identified in the trust agreement, and the beneficiaries must be living persons or qualified charitable organizations.

Of course, such a trust account will also have the benefit of never needing probate to administer, and the successor trustee will easily be able to manage the account upon the death or incapacity of the grantor of the trust. Increased FDIC insurance coverage is one more benefit of establishing a revocable trust.

Posted in: Asset Protection,Living Trust