FDIC Secure Email Procedures for External Users
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This document contains information proprietary to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Receiving FDIC Secure Messages
- FDIC Secure Email Registration
- Opening a Secure Message
- Replying to a Secure Message
- Composing a Secure Message
- Changing your Password
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. Introduction
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has implemented a secure electronic mail service to provide integrity and confidentiality needed to protect information being transmitted to external recipients. This service is intended to provide a secure channel for email communication between FDIC employees and external recipients.
This solution encrypts all email communications designated by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation as containing confidential and sensitive business information. Recipients of these e-mails can reply securely to the messages by following the procedures in this document. Recipients can also compose new messages to send to FDIC employees.
2. Receiving FDIC Secure Messages
When an FDIC employee sends you an encrypted email message, you will not get the text of the message directly in your mailbox. You will receive a notification that an encrypted email has been sent to you containing the message sender and the message subject. Click on the hyperlink in the message to retrieve the secure email message at the FDIC Secure Email Message Center web portal. See figure 1
Figure 1: FDIC Secure Email notification received by external user.
3. FDIC Secure Email RegistrationRegistration is a one-time, quick and easy process. Use your browser to connect to the FDIC Secure Email Message Center web portal at: https://securemail.fdic.gov . See figure 2
Figure 2: FDIC Secure Email Message Center Registration page.
- Click "Click here" to create your account.
- Enter your email address and password twice that complies with the Password Rules shown.
- Enter a Password Reminder Phrase.
- Click "Submit Password".
- You will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate your password.
4. Opening a Secure Message
- Log into the FDIC Secure Email Message Center at https://securemail.fdic.gov.
- Click the message Subject to view the details of the message. See figure 3
Figure 3: FDIC Secure Email Message Center Messages Inbox.
5. Replying to a Secure Message
- Click Reply.
- Type your response.
- Click Send. Note* You may only reply to users with FDIC email accounts.* See figure 4
Figure 4: FDIC Secure Email Message Center Reply Inbox.
6. Composing a Secure Message
New messages can be composed using the FDIC Secure Email Message Center. However, these messages can only be addressed to FDIC employees. While composing a message, you may attach as many as 10 attachments and up to a total of 15 MB uncompressed size. See figure 5
Figure 5: How to compose a secure message at the FDIC Secure Email Message Center.
- Select the Compose Tab.
- Click Attach File.
- Click Browse. Select the file you want to attach by navigating to the folder and highlighting the file name.
- Click Open. The file name appears in the box next to the Browse button.
- Click Add File. The file name appears in the Attachments field. Repeat the steps above until all files are attached.
- Click Attach. You are returned to the previous page with the files attached.
- Click Send.
7. Changing your Password
If you need to change your FDIC Secure Email Message Center web portal password, go to https://securemail.fdic.gov. See figure 6
Figure 6: How to change your password at the FDIC Secure Email Message Center.
- Click "Change your password"
- Enter your Email Address.
- Enter a New Password that complies with the Password Rules shown.
- Re-enter your New password.
- Enter a New Password Reminder Phrase.
- Click Submit Password.
8. Frequently Asked Questions
What is FDIC Secure Email?
FDIC Secure Email enables FDIC employees to exchange confidential and sensitive business information through a secure channel with external recipients and agencies.
Can non-FDIC users send and receive FDIC Secure Email?
The FDIC Secure Email web portal allows the exchange of secure messages between non-FDIC and FDIC entities. However, there is a one time registration process for first time users.
Do I need to install any software?
No additional software is needed.
What is the Web Portal?
The web portal is the FDIC Secure Email Message Center where external recipients can retrieve the secure messages.
How do I get to the FDIC Secure Email Message Center web portal?
The link to the web portal is https://securemail.fdic.gov.
How do I register?
Non-FDIC users must register to use the service. Connect your browser to FDIC Secure Email Message Center at: https://securemail.fdic.gov
- Click "Click here" to create your account.
- Enter your email address and password twice that complies with the Password Rules shown.
- Enter a Password Reminder Phrase.
- Click "Submit Password".
- You will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate your password.
Can FDIC Secure Email messages have file attachments?
Yes. All attached files are encrypted and compressed. Users can attach up to 10 files and up to 15 MB.
Do I need to be connected to the Internet to Send and Receive Secure messages?
Yes. Non-FDIC users must be connected to the Internet to access the FDIC Secure Email Message Center web portal.
Can I reply to users other than FDIC employees?
No. The FDIC Message Center web portal allows email communication between you and FDIC employees only!
Can non-FDIC users read FDIC Secure Email from any computer?
Yes. Non-FDIC users with internet access can login to the FDIC Secure Email Message Center from any computer to read their messages. The link to the web portal is: https://securemail.fdic.gov
I use Gmail. Can I receive FDIC Secure Email on these accounts?
Yes. FDIC secure messages can be sent to any Internet email address; however, FDIC Secure Email should be used for business purposes only.
I have forgotten my password for the FDIC Secure Email Message Center password. How can it be reset?
If you forget or want to change your FDIC Secure Email Message Center password,
- Click on the hyperlink sent to you in a secure message (or go to https://securemail.fdic.gov)
- Select "Forgot you password? Or Change your password" link.
- Enter your email address and your new password.
- Go to your email inbox and respond to the confirmation message.
- Click on the hyperlink in the confirmation message to activate the new password.
How long will mail be available on the web portal before it expires?
Mail messages will be available for 21 days.
How long will unused user accounts be available on the web portal before they expire?
Unused user accounts expire after 180 days.
If technical assistance is needed for the web portal, who can I contact?
You may send an email to helpdesk@fdic.gov for assistance.