If you have an account or loan with Washington Mutual, financial experts say the smartest thing you can do right now is review your accounts and know your balances. That's good advice regardless of where you bank.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation just launched a national campaign to assure Americans their money in the bank is safe, up to a point.

Here's what's covered.

In general, the total balance of all accounts in your name at one bank is insured up to $100,000. If your accounts total more than that, move the excess to a protected account. That could mean going to a different bank.

Keep in mind that the $100,000-limit is based on ownership categories. So join accounts are treated separately from single accounts, raising the limit for couples to $200,000.

Keep in mind, Washington Mutual and other banks have hundreds of branches. Many consumers have accounts in more than one branch.

According to FDIC rules, accounts in your name at multiple branches of the same bank are treated as one combined account.

So total all your accounts at different branches, and move the amounts above $100,000.

Many customers also have retirement accounts at the bank. The FDIC has different rules for them.

IRAs, Roth IRAs and certain other retirement accounts in the same bank are insured up to $250,000.

So again, review combined balances, and transfer the excess to a protected account.

As for people with WaMu mortgages, just keep making payments; nothing changes.

"if you're with Washington Mutual, then your mortgage is your mortgage. No one can come after you to force you to pay earlier, said economist Chris Weber, Ph. D, at Seattle University.

"Whoever might end up say, taking over Washington Mutual is going to have to honor all of those contracts that Washington Mutual has in place now," he said.

If WaMu is sold to another bank, you'll see a new name on your statements, but experts say you can expect the same interest on savings and checking accounts, and loan payments will remain the same although there may be possible interest changes on adjustable rate mortgages.

If there is a merger or sale, your accounts will be considered as separate from the new bank for six months, then they'll be folded into the new bank.

And if you took out a certificate of deposit through an investment broker, find out where it is. Those are typically tied to a bank. If it's with Washington Mutual, remember, that CD balance counts as part of the maximum $100,000 of your FDIC protection.

Again, joint account limits are $100,000 per person, bringing the limit for couples or joint accounts to $200,000.

More information:

FDIC's Depositor Bill of Rights