New FDIC Official Signs and Advertising Requirements
Apr. 17, 2025
Is Your Institution Ready for the FDIC’s New Sign Compliance Rules?
The countdown has begun. With the FDIC’s sweeping updates to signage and advertising rules going into effect on May 1, 2025, banks and other insured financial institutions are facing a critical deadline. These changes—designed to reflect the realities of modern banking—affect everything from websites and mobile apps to ATMs and in-branch signage. They also place a new emphasis on clarity between deposit and non-deposit products and the importance of clearly communicating FDIC insurance coverage.
In this blog, we break down what the new rule means, why it matters, and what steps your institution should be taking now to stay compliant, avoid penalties, and protect consumer trust.
Understanding the New FDIC Sign and Advertising Requirements
FDIC Sign Compliance: Deadline May 1, 2025
New FDIC Official Signs and Advertising Requirements.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has
announced significant updates to its official sign and advertising
requirements, with compliance deadlines set for May 1, 2025. These new
regulations impact digital platforms, ATMs, branch lobbies, and signage for
non-deposit products. Banks and insured depository institutions (IDIs) must act
now to ensure compliance across their physical and digital channels.
Why the Change?
The banking industry has evolved significantly since the
FDIC last updated its sign regulations in 2006. With the rise of digital
banking, the amendments to Part 328 aim to provide the same level of clarity
and confidence to digital banking customers as traditional in-branch banking.
The updates are designed to ensure that depositors using websites, mobile
applications, and ATMs receive clear, accurate, and consistent information
about deposit insurance.
Key Compliance Areas.
The final rule addresses several critical areas to modernize
FDIC regulations:
1. Expansion of FDIC signage requirements:
banks must display the FDIC official digital sign on websites, mobile
applications, and certain IDI ATMs.
Updated guidelines
for displaying the official sign within branch locations, including new branch
layouts and designs can be found at https://www.fdic.gov/.
2. Clear differentiation between deposit
and non-deposit products: banks must use disclosures to clearly distinguish
between insured deposit products and non-deposit products, such as investments
and crypto assets, across all banking channels.
3. Addressing misrepresentation of
FDIC insurance coverage: the rule provides clear guidance on preventing misleading information about FDIC
insurance.
The definition of “non-deposit
product” now explicitly includes crypto-assets and safe deposit box services.
4. Mandatory written policies and procedures:
insured financial institutions must establish and maintain written policies and
procedures to ensure compliance with Part 328.
The requirement for written policies transitions changed from
an industry best practice to a regulatory mandate.
Implementation Timeline:
- December 20, 2023 – FDIC announced updates to Part 328.
- April 1, 2024 – Original effective date for the final rule.
- January 1, 2025 – Extended compliance date.
- May 1, 2025 – Final compliance deadline.
- March 1, 2026 – Extended compliance date for Sections 328.4 & 328.5.
What Financial Institutions Need to Do Now.
Assess digital and physical compliance – review all digital platforms, ATMs, and branch locations to ensure compliance with signage and advertising requirements.
Update policies and procedures – establish and document policies addressing compliance with Part 328.
Train employees – ensure staff understands the new requirements and how to apply them.
Monitor and audit compliance – regularly review compliance measures to prevent misrepresentation of FDIC insurance coverage.
Final thoughts: The May 1, 2025, deadline is approaching fast. Banks and other FDIC-insured financial institutions must proactively implement the necessary changes to comply with the new official FDIC sign and advertising requirements. By ensuring adherence to the updated regulations, institutions can maintain consumer trust, avoid regulatory penalties, and provide clear, reliable information to their customers.
For more information and resources on FDIC compliance, visit the FDIC website or consult a compliance expert.
Want more information? Check out our complimentary webinar, FDIC Sign Compliance: Deadline May 1, 2025, on this topic.
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