Delaware Depository - Security, Insurance, Storage Options and Fees (2026)

Delaware Depository is a private precious metals storage company headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, founded in 1999. It stores bullion for IRA custodians, dealers, financial institutions and individual investors, and it's one of the most commonly used depositories for gold IRAs. Independent reviews most often report it as the depository for Augusta Precious Metals customers.

It's a licensed depository of CME Group for COMEX and NYMEX metals, and its trust company operations are supervised by the Delaware State Bank Commissioner, according to the company. It offers both segregated and non-segregated storage, with insurance on stored metal.

Delaware Depository at a Glance

Table: Delaware Depository key facts, as reported by the company and independent sources | | Delaware Depository | |---|---| | Founded | 1999 | | Headquarters | Wilmington, Delaware | | Other locations | A second U.S. facility reported in Nevada; international options reported | | Exchange status | Licensed depository of CME Group (COMEX and NYMEX) for gold, silver, platinum, palladium | | Oversight | Trust company supervised by the Delaware State Bank Commissioner (per the company) | | Storage types | Segregated and non-segregated | | Insurance | All-risk coverage, commonly reported as underwritten through Lloyd's of London | | Typical IRA storage fee | About $100 non-segregated, $150 segregated per year (through custodians such as Equity Trust) |

How Depository Storage Works for an IRA

You can't walk in and collect IRA metal. Withdrawals happen only through your custodian, either by sale or as an in-kind distribution shipped to you. See gold IRA storage.

Segregated vs Non-Segregated Storage

For standard bullion, pooled storage is generally fine, because identical coins are interchangeable. Segregated storage appeals to buyers who want their exact items back, especially for bars with serial numbers or if they plan to take coins home in retirement. See segregated vs non-segregated storage.

Security and Protection

Delaware Depository describes multiple layers of physical security, electronic monitoring, internal controls and insurance. Some independent sources also note that the depository doesn't lend, lease or pledge the bullion it holds, which helps keep customer metal separate from the company's own finances. Stored metal belongs to the customers or their IRAs, not the depository.

As with any vault, insurance covers specified risks under the policy's terms. If you hold a large amount, ask your custodian or the depository how coverage works and what it includes.

Fees

You don't usually pay Delaware Depository directly for an IRA. Your custodian bills storage as part of your account fees. Through Equity Trust, reported storage fees are about $100 a year for non-segregated and $150 for segregated storage. Other custodians may charge differently, sometimes as a percentage of value. See gold IRA fees.

Audits and Records

Depositories reconcile what's physically in the vault with records held for each custodian and customer. Delaware Depository describes regular audits and internal controls, and as a CME-licensed facility it's also subject to exchange requirements for the metal it stores for futures delivery. Your custodian statement, not the depository, is usually your record of holdings, so review it each quarter and query anything that looks wrong.

Why Delaware?

Delaware is a common home for depositories partly because of its location near major East Coast financial centers and its established trust company laws. Some savers prefer storage farther from the coasts, such as in Texas or Nevada. Delaware Depository's reported second U.S. facility offers a western option, which some custodians make available. Ask your custodian which locations it supports.

Delaware vs Other Depositories

Table: Common gold IRA depositories | Depository | Location(s) | Notes | |---|---|---| | Delaware Depository | Delaware; Nevada reported | Widely used; CME licensed | | International Depository Services (IDS) | Delaware, Texas, Canada | Used by several gold IRA companies | | Brink's | Multiple U.S. locations | Global security firm | | Texas Bullion Depository | Texas | State-run option some prefer |

All approved depositories are insured and audited. The choice usually comes down to your custodian's partners and your preference on location. See Noble Gold review for a Texas-focused option.

Delaware Depository and Augusta

Augusta Precious Metals most often uses Delaware Depository for customer IRAs, with Equity Trust as custodian, according to independent reviews. Augusta has also been reported to offer other depository locations. Ask Augusta which facility and storage type your account will use, and confirm the storage fee. See Augusta custodian and storage.

Taking Metal Out

To remove metal from Delaware Depository, you request a distribution or sale through your custodian. For in-kind distributions, the depository ships coins or bars to you, insured, after your custodian authorizes it. For a traditional IRA, the value is taxable income that year. See gold IRA distributions and RMDs.