Notifying the FDIC when someone dies
Executor is responsible for notifying the FDIC
OverviewWhen someone dies
FDIC Information and Support Center
Phone1-877-275-3342
WebsiteVisit website→
HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET; Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET; closed Sunday and federal holidays
Deposit Insurance Questions
Phone1-877-275-3342
WebsiteLearn about benefits→
HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET; Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET; closed Sunday and federal holidays
Contact Your Bank Directly
Phone1-877-275-3342
Timeline
6-month grace period for FDIC insurance coverage; bank account access timelines vary by institution
WebsiteLearn more →
HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET; Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET; closed Sunday and federal holidays
Verified Jul 2026
When someone dies, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) must be notified. The executor is responsible for notifying the FDIC.
Notification deadline: Restructure accounts within 6 months of death to preserve full FDIC coverage.
Steps to take
Steps for notifying the FDIC and applying for survivor benefits:
1
Notify the bank of the account holder's death:
- •Contact each FDIC-insured bank where the deceased held accounts
- •Provide a certified copy of the death certificate
- •Ask about the account types and current coverage levels
2
Understand the 6-month FDIC grace period (12 C.F.R. 330.3(j)):
- •FDIC treats the deceased as still alive for 6 months for insurance purposes
- •Coverage levels remain unchanged during this period unless accounts are restructured
- •The grace period will not be applied if it would result in less coverage
- •Use this time to restructure accounts if needed to stay within insurance limits
3
Review and restructure accounts if needed:
- •Single accounts: coverage continues at $250,000 for 6 months, then reverts to the new owner's limits
- •Joint accounts: the surviving co-owner's coverage continues at $250,000 per co-owner for 6 months
- •POD/trust accounts: coverage may change immediately if a beneficiary has died (no grace period)
- •Consider consolidating or redistributing deposits to stay within insurance limits
4
Use the FDIC's Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE) at edie.fdic.gov to calculate your specific coverage after restructuring.
5
Verify that the bank is FDIC-insured using BankFind at banks.data.fdic.gov/bankfind-suite/bankfind.
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Account holder's identification and account numbers
- Letters testamentary or letters of administration (for estate access)
- Trust document (if accounts are held in a revocable trust)
- Government-issued photo ID of the executor or personal representative
Timeline
6-month grace period for FDIC insurance coverage; bank account access timelines vary by institution
Survivor benefits
6-Month Grace Period for Deposit Insurance
The FDIC insures a deceased person's accounts as if they were still alive for 6 months after death (12 C.F.R. 330.3(j)). During this grace period, insurance coverage does not change unless accounts are restructured. This allows heirs and estate administrators to reorganize accounts without losing coverage. The grace period will not be applied if it would result in less coverage than would otherwise apply.
Eligibility: All deposit accounts held by the deceased at FDIC-insured institutions
Amount: Up to $250,000 per depositor, per institution, per ownership category
How to apply: The grace period applies automatically. Notify the bank of the death and work with the institution to restructure accounts within 6 months.
Learn more →Joint Account Coverage After Death
Joint accounts receive $250,000 in FDIC coverage per co-owner. When one co-owner dies, the 6-month grace period preserves the deceased co-owner's share of coverage while the account is administered. After 6 months, the surviving co-owner's coverage reverts to their individual ownership category limits.
Eligibility: Surviving co-owner of a joint deposit account
Amount: $250,000 per co-owner
How to apply: Contact the bank with a certified death certificate. The surviving co-owner should review whether account restructuring is needed before the 6-month grace period expires.
Learn more →POD/Trust Account Coverage Changes
Under the unified trust account rule (12 C.F.R. 330.10, effective April 1, 2024), POD, revocable trust, and irrevocable trust accounts receive $250,000 in coverage per owner per eligible beneficiary, up to $1,250,000 per owner. When the account owner dies, the 6-month grace period applies. When a beneficiary dies, coverage is reduced immediately with no grace period.
Eligibility: Beneficiaries of POD, revocable trust, or irrevocable trust accounts at FDIC-insured institutions
Amount: $250,000 per owner per eligible beneficiary (up to $1,250,000 per owner)
How to apply: Contact the bank to report the death. If the account owner died, the grace period applies automatically. If a beneficiary died, coverage adjusts immediately — review trust documents for successor beneficiaries.
Learn more →Frequently asked questions
The FDIC insures a deceased person's accounts as if they were still alive for 6 months after death (12 C.F.R. 330.3(j)). During this grace period, insurance coverage does not change unless accounts are restructured. After 6 months, coverage reverts to the new owner's limits based on ownership category.
Joint accounts receive $250,000 in FDIC coverage per co-owner. When one co-owner dies, the 6-month grace period preserves the deceased's share of coverage. After 6 months, the surviving co-owner's deposits are recalculated under their individual ownership categories.
No. The 6-month grace period only applies when the account owner dies. If a POD (payable-on-death) or trust account beneficiary dies, coverage is reduced immediately. For example, if an account has two POD beneficiaries and one dies, coverage drops from $500,000 to $250,000 right away.
If an FDIC-insured bank fails during the 6-month grace period, the FDIC treats the deceased as still alive for insurance purposes. Coverage is calculated using the account structure as of the date of failure. Insured deposits are typically paid the next business day.
No. If the bank is operating normally, contact the bank directly to handle the deceased's accounts. The FDIC only becomes involved if the bank fails. In a bank failure, insured deposits are paid automatically — you do not need to file a claim for amounts within the $250,000 limit.
After completing the notification process, eligible survivors can apply for 3 benefits through the FDIC. Each benefit has its own eligibility requirements and application process.
Keep copies of all documents submitted to the FDIC. Original documents submitted for verification are typically returned after processing.
FDIC Information and Support Center
Phone1-877-275-3342
WebsiteVisit website→
HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET; Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET; closed Sunday and federal holidays
Deposit Insurance Questions
Phone1-877-275-3342
WebsiteLearn about benefits→
HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET; Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET; closed Sunday and federal holidays
Contact Your Bank Directly
Phone1-877-275-3342
Timeline
6-month grace period for FDIC insurance coverage; bank account access timelines vary by institution
WebsiteLearn more →
HoursMonday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET; Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET; closed Sunday and federal holidays
Verified Jul 2026