Part of the MITEY Network · independent, not a bankFees retrieved November 1, 2026 · lists checked October 30, 2026

Deposit protection · guide

CDIC deposit insurance explained

CDIC insures eligible deposits at its member institutions up to $100,000 per insured category, per member — free and automatic. The details decide whether all of your money is protected.

◷ Facts checked October 30, 2026 against the official sources listed on this page

Mitey the Yeti, CanadianBanks.ca’s guide, introducing: CDIC deposit insurance explained

The rule in one line

Up to $100,000 of eligible deposits — principal and interest combined — in each insured category, at each CDIC member institution. Because categories are insured separately, your total protection at one member can be well above $100,000.

The nine categories

CategoryNotes
Deposits in one nameChequing, savings and term deposits in your name alone.
Joint depositsHeld in two or more names; each distinct set of co-owners gets its own limit, if the institution’s records show every owner.
Deposits held in trustSeparate from the trustee’s own deposits; up to $100,000 per beneficiary when CDIC’s disclosure rules are met.
RRSPsEligible deposits inside a registered retirement savings plan.
RRIFsEligible deposits inside a registered retirement income fund.
TFSAsEligible deposits inside a tax-free savings account.
RESPsAdded April 30, 2022.
RDSPsAdded April 30, 2022.
FHSAsFirst home savings accounts.
What changed in 2022

In the second phase of CDIC’s reforms (April 30, 2022) RESPs and RDSPs became separate categories and the separate mortgage-tax category ended; eligible mortgage-tax deposits now fall under the other categories.

What is covered and what isn’t

Covered (if eligible)Not covered
Savings and chequing accounts, including money arriving by payroll, Interac e-Transfer or chequeMutual funds
GICs and other term deposits (terms over five years since April 30, 2020)Stocks and bonds
Deposits in foreign currencies such as US dollars (since April 30, 2020)Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
Eligible deposits inside the registered plans listed aboveCrypto-assets, including stablecoins

Foreign-currency deposits don’t get extra room: they are added to your Canadian-dollar deposits in the same category.

Worked example

Worked example · computed by the deposit insurance calculator

MemberCategoryDepositsCoveredOver limit
Bank AOwn name$130,000$100,000$30,000
Bank ATFSA$45,000$45,000$0
Bank AJoint (Me + Partner)$80,000$80,000$0
Bank BOwn name$60,000$60,000$0

$285,000 of $315,000 protected — the only gap is the $30,000 above the limit in Bank A’s one-name category. Check your own deposits →

Brands share their member’s limit

Coverage follows the legal member institution, not the logo. CDIC lists the trade names each member uses — for example Simplii Financial for CIBC, EQ Bank for Equitable Bank, Oaken Financial for Home Bank and Home Trust, and Motive Financial and CWB Financial Group for National Bank. Deposits under any of those names share the member’s limits. By contrast, Tangerine Bank is a member in its own right, separate from its parent Scotiabank. Look up any name in the CDIC member directory.

Who is not a CDIC member

Every federally regulated institution that takes retail deposits is a member, but some institutions you may see are not: foreign bank branches (Schedule III), provincially regulated credit unions (protected by their province instead), ATB Financial (guaranteed by Alberta) and a few banks that don’t take retail deposits. On the official lists checked October 30, 2026, these banks were not CDIC members:

Rogers Bank · Amex Bank of Canada · Citco Bank Canada (OSFI/CDIC lists, checked October 30, 2026)

Fintechs and “held in trust” accounts

Some apps aren’t banks at all. They hold your money at one or more CDIC members, sometimes in trust. Coverage then depends on which member holds it and whether you already have deposits there. See fintechs vs banks.

If a member fails

You don’t need to file a claim. CDIC says cheques for non-registered deposits start going out in the days after a failed member closes; registered deposits take longer because they must move to another institution offering the same plan. CDIC may instead support a transfer of deposits to a healthy institution. More: what happens if a bank fails.

Mitey the Yeti, CanadianBanks.ca’s guide, pointing out a tip
Mitey’s note

Two names on your statements might be one CDIC member. Check before you split savings “to be safe”.

Frequently asked questions

Is CDIC coverage per person or per account?

Neither exactly: it is per insured category, per member institution. Several accounts in the same category at the same member share one $100,000 limit.

Do I have to sign up for CDIC coverage?

No. Coverage is free and automatic on eligible deposits at member institutions.

Is a GIC longer than five years covered?

Yes. Since April 30, 2020 eligible term deposits with terms longer than five years are covered.

Are RESPs covered separately?

Yes. RESPs and RDSPs have been separate CDIC categories since April 30, 2022.

Educational information only, not financial, legal or tax advice. CanadianBanks.ca is independent and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or paid by any institution listed. Confirm details with the institution and the official sources linked on each page before you act. Read the full disclaimer.