Is any of it over the insured limit?
One line per account. Accounts of the same kind at the same bank are added together, because that is how the limit works.
- The limit. FDIC deposit insurance covers "$250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, for each account ownership category." FDIC, read 2026-10-27
- Same bank, same kind: added together. All your deposits in the same ownership category at the same bank are added together. A single account and a joint account at the same bank are insured separately, and so is an IRA. FDIC, read 2026-10-27
- Each CD is not insured on its own. The $250,000 covers all accounts in your name at the same bank, not each CD or account. SEC (Investor.gov), read 2026-10-27
- Credit unions have the same limit. The National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund insures individual accounts at a federally insured credit union up to $250,000, a member's interest in all joint accounts combined up to $250,000, and IRAs separately up to $250,000. NCUA, read 2026-10-27
- Not everything at a bank is a deposit. FDIC insurance does not cover stocks, bonds, mutual funds, annuities, life insurance, safe deposit boxes, Treasury bills, bonds or notes, municipal securities, or crypto assets, even when a bank sells them. FDIC, read 2026-10-27
- Check that the bank is insured. Look the bank up yourself in the FDIC's BankFind, and a credit union in the NCUA's Research a Credit Union. For trust accounts and other cases, the FDIC's EDIE estimator works it out in full. FDIC, read 2026-10-27
How we count: joint accounts are counted as owned in equal shares, so the limit is the number of owners times $250,000. If the shares are not equal, or the account is a trust, use EDIE.
When does each part come due?
Some people split cash they will need into parts that come due one after another, so some of it is always close. This works out the parts and the dates. It does not say what to put them in.
| Part | Amount | Comes due |
|---|
- Taking a CD out early can cost you. A CD should state its maturity date and any penalty for early withdrawal. SEC (Investor.gov), read 2026-10-27
- Inflation is the risk in cash. The risk with CDs is that inflation grows faster than your money. SEC (Investor.gov), read 2026-10-27
- Treasury bills come due in weeks. The Treasury sells bills for terms of 4, 6, 8, 13, 17, 26 and 52 weeks, in amounts of $100 and up in steps of $100; at the end you are paid face value. TreasuryDirect, read 2026-10-27
- Bills are not bank deposits. FDIC insurance does not cover Treasury bills, bonds or notes. FDIC, read 2026-10-27
How we count: the amount is split into equal parts (cents go to the first parts). The first part comes due one step from today, the next one step later, and so on.
Before you move cash anywhere
If you are in danger right now, call 911.
If money worry feels like too much, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Lifeline, any time. 988 Lifeline, read 2026-10-27
Where every line comes from
Each page below was read on 2026-10-27. If a page changes, its own words win.
- FDIC: Understanding Deposit Insurance, read 2026-10-27
- NCUA: Share Insurance Coverage, read 2026-10-27
- SEC (Investor.gov): Certificates of Deposit (CDs), read 2026-10-27
- TreasuryDirect: Treasury Bills, read 2026-10-27
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, read 2026-10-27