The FDIC receives no federal tax dollars—insured financial institutions fund its operations. Consider these other facts about the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF), which is administered by FDIC to protect federally insured banks and savings institutions:

FDIC’s basic coverage has been increased from $100,000 to $250,000. Certain retirement accounts coverage had previously been increased to $250,000, and this coverage has not changed. The increased basic coverage was authorized by Congress in response to recent economic turbulence, and is scheduled to be in effect through 2013. Coverage can be even greater depending upon how your accounts are structured (see back page).

Capitalization of the fund is over $50 billion in reserves. This is one good reason why not one penny of insured savings has ever been lost by a customer of a federally insured bank.

The great majority of federally insured banks and savings institutions meet or exceed capitalization adequacy goals, the leading indicator of safety and soundness for banks, and bank profitability remains strong.