Times have indeed changed for you as a consumer. Banking institutions are now
able to offer more choices to their customers, including financial products that
are not FDIC-insured deposits. This freedom to choose among a variety of
products can be very convenient and make it easier to manage your financial
affairs. However, this freedom comes with the responsibility to be an informed
consumer. We hope our story provides information and suggestions that will help
you choose and use financial products wisely.
One thing that hasn't changed in all these years is the role of the FDIC in
protecting America's consumers. FDIC insurance provides a guarantee that your
insured deposits will be safe in the event your bank or savings institution
fails.
The FDIC also is here to help you with your banking questions or problems.
Our services include a toll-free
consumer assistance phone line and an Internet site where you can get
resource materials and send questions to the FDIC online. Among the FDIC
publications describing what is or is not insured by the FDIC is "Your
Investments," which is available online or in single copies from the
FDIC's Public
Information Center. The FDIC offers assistance to individual consumers in a
variety of ways because we share a common goal—to protect your money.