The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is an independent agency created by the U.S. Congress in 1933 to help maintain public confidence in the nation's financial system. Sovereign has been FDIC-insured since March 10, 1938.
FDIC deposit insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. There is no need for depositors to apply for FDIC insurance or even to request it. Coverage is automatic. Since the FDIC was established, no depositor has ever lost a single penny of FDIC-insured funds.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was signed by President Barack Obama on July 21, 2010, and made permanent the current standard maximum deposit insurance amount (SMDIA) of $250,000. The FDIC coverage limit applies per depositor, per insured depository
institution, for each account ownership category.
Even though Sovereign is now part of the Santander Group, it remains an FDIC-insured federal savings bank. As such, your deposits are insured by the FDIC up to the maximum limits allowed by law, which is at least $250,000. Also, you are eligible for additional insurance if your accounts are held in different categories of ownership.
Standard FDIC Maximum Deposit Insurance Coverage Limits*
| Single Accounts (owned by one person) |
$250,000 per owner** |
| Joint Accounts (two or more persons) |
$250,000 per co-owner** |
| IRAs and certain other retirement accounts |
$250,000 per owner |
| Trust Accounts |
$250,000 per owner beneficiary
subject to specific limitations
and requirements** |
What is not insured by the FDIC?
Sovereign also offers a range of investment accounts that do not qualify as deposits, and are not covered by FDIC insurance. Examples of non-deposit investment products not covered by FDIC deposit insurance include:
- Investments in mutual funds
- U.S. Treasury bills, notes, and bonds purchased through an insured institution
- Annuities
- Stocks, bonds, or other securities
- Contents of a safe deposit box
FDIC Resources
If you have questions about FDIC coverage limits and requirements, please visit
www.myFDICinsurance.gov or call toll-free 1-877-ASK-FDIC (1-877-275-3342).