public-service · FDIC digital sign rule
Why Your Banking App Shows an FDIC Notice
A federal rule, 12 CFR Part 328, now requires an FDIC sign inside banking apps and websites — here is exactly what the regulation says.
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Updated: Sources: 5
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What matters now
- 12 CFR Part 328 requires FDIC signage on banking apps and websites, not just branches.
- Section 328.5 sets the sign requirement specifically for digital deposit-taking channels.
- The physical FDIC sign spec is 7 by 3 inches, black lettering on gold background.
- ATM signage rules turn on whether a machine went into service by April 1, 2027.
- The current digital signage rule (§ 328.5) was last amended January 29, 2026.
For a website or banking application that meets the regulation’s definition of a digital deposit-taking channel, federal banking regulation sets an FDIC-sign requirement. The rule is Title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 328, titled “PART 328—FDIC OFFICIAL SIGNS, ADVERTISEMENT OF MEMBERSHIP, FALSE ADVERTISING, MISREPRESENTATION OF INSURED STATUS, AND MISUSE OF THE FDIC’S NAME OR LOGO” (eCFR, Part 328). A specific section of that part, § 328.5, spells out the sign requirement for digital channels.
This original record-reading guide is a general reading aid, not cited evidence. It does not depict a source record; the article text and source links provide the facts.
Key points
- Part 328 is the federal regulation governing FDIC signs, and it now has a section specifically for digital channels: “§ 328.5 Signs for digital deposit-taking channels” (§ 328.5).
- The regulation defines exactly what counts as a “digital deposit-taking channel”: “Digital deposit-taking channel means websites, banking applications, and any other electronic communications method through which an insured depository institution accepts deposits” (§ 328.1).
- A separate, older section sets a physical sign specification for branches, for comparison: any sign posted under this part “shall be 7″ by 3″ in size, with black lettering and gold background” (§ 328.2).
- ATM signage has its own compliance line drawn at a specific date, distinguishing machines placed into service “on or before April 1, 2027” from those placed into service “after April 1, 2027” (§ 328.4).
- The current text of § 328.5 carries a recent federal amendment note: “[91 FR 3812, Jan. 29, 2026]” (§ 328.5).
Part 328, the governing rule
The relevant federal regulation is “PART 328—FDIC OFFICIAL SIGNS, ADVERTISEMENT OF MEMBERSHIP, FALSE ADVERTISING, MISREPRESENTATION OF INSURED STATUS, AND MISUSE OF THE FDIC’S NAME OR LOGO” (Part 328). This part of Title 12 of the Code of Federal Regulations contains the digital-channel signage section discussed here.
Why apps count as channels
The reason the notice shows up specifically inside an app or on a website, rather than only in a physical branch, is that Part 328 has its own definition for that setting. Section 328.1 defines the term this way: “Digital deposit-taking channel means websites, banking applications, and any other electronic communications method through which an insured depository institution accepts deposits” (§ 328.1). Under that definition, an app or website through which a bank takes deposits qualifies as a covered channel for signage purposes, and § 328.5 — titled “Signs for digital deposit-taking channels” (§ 328.5) — is the section that requires the sign on that channel.
Digital vs. physical sign specs
For contrast, Part 328 also sets a physical-sign specification. That provision states that a sign posted under this part “shall be 7″ by 3″ in size, with black lettering and gold background” (§ 328.2). Section 328.5 is the separate section for digital deposit-taking channels.
The ATM signage deadline
Part 328 also addresses signage on ATMs, and it draws a compliance line based on when a machine went into service. Section 328.4 distinguishes ATMs placed into service “on or before April 1, 2027” from those placed into service “after April 1, 2027” (§ 328.4), meaning the applicable signage requirement for a given machine depends on that in-service date.
Latest rule amendment
The current version of § 328.5 carries a source note showing its most recent federal amendment: “[91 FR 3812, Jan. 29, 2026]” (§ 328.5).
What this doesn’t cover
This article explains only what the cited federal record says about its digital-channel signage requirement. It does not evaluate whether any specific app currently on the market is actually compliant with these sections. It also does not determine whether any particular product or account shown inside an app is itself FDIC-insured.
This article makes no recommendation about how to structure deposits or accounts, and it does not evaluate or endorse any named bank, app, or product.