Checking, savings, trust and share certificates are insured by the NCUSIF. Credit unions also may offer money market share accounts, which earn dividends at a rate set by the credit union and usually limits the member to a certain number of transactions within a stated time period. All of these types of accounts generally are insured by the NCUSIF up to the legal limit of $100,000 and sometimes even more for special kinds of accounts.

WHAT IS NOT INSURED?

Mutual Funds
A mutual fund typically invests the fund's money in either a variety of industries or several companies in the same industry. Your funds may be invested in a money market mutual fund, which may invest in short-term CDs or securities such as Treasury bills and government or corporate bonds. Do not confuse a money market mutual fund with an NCUA-insured money market share account (described earlier), which earns dividends in an amount determined by, and paid by, the crediot union where your funds are deposited.

Mutual funds, stocks, bonds or other investment products, whether purchased through a financial institution or elsewhere are NOT deposits, and therefore are NOT insured by NCUA--or any other agency of the federal government.

Securities you own, including mutual funds, that are held for your account by a broker, or a financial institution's brokerage subsidiary, may be protected against physical loss by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), a non-government entity funded by assessments paid by members. SIPC protects customer accounts held by its members up to $500,000, including up to $100,000 in cash, if a member brokerage or financial institution brokerage subsidiary fails.

In any case, NO type of protection for investments insures against loss in the value of an account (the value of your investments can go up or down--depending on the demand for them in the market), while federal deposit insurance protects the amount in your share account(s) up to the $100,000 limit.

Safe Deposit Boxes
The contents of a safe deposit box are NOT insured by NCUA, or, generally, by the financial institution where the box is located. In the event of a financial institution failure, in most cases an acquiring institution would take over the failed financial institution's offices, including locations with safe deposit boxes. If NCUA conducts a payoff because no acquirer can be found, box holders would be sent instructions about removing the contents of their boxes.

Robberies And Other Thefts
Stolen funds may be covered by a financial institution's blanket bond, a multi-purpose insurance policy a financial institution purchases to protect itself from fire, flood, earthquake, robbery, defalcation, embezzlement and other causes of disappearing funds. The blanket bond ensures that account holder's funds are protected under those circumstances.

In those rare instances where a financial institution employee may tamper with an account holder's funds, the financial institution's blanket bond insurance may cover the loss and the funds could be returned to the owner. However, if a third party somehow gains access to your account and transacts business that you wouldn't approve of, you must contact the financial institution and your local law enforcement authorities, who have jurisdiction over this type of wrongdoing. NCUSIF insurance does not cover these types of loss.

SUMMARY
NCUA-Insured

• Checking Accounts (including money market accounts)
• Savings and Share Accounts (including passbook accounts)
• Share Certificates
• Retirement Accounts (consisting of cash on deposit at a Credit Union

Not NCUA-Insured

• Investments in mutual funds (stock, bond or money market mutual funds), whether purchased from a financial institution, brokerage or dealer
• Stocks, bonds, Treasury securities or other investment products, whether purchased through a financial institution or directly from a broker/dealer