Charged an Overdraft Fee? Expect to Pay $35 at Banks, $26 at Credit Unions

A night out to the movies. A new shirt. Groceries. These are all things for which many people would gladly fork over $35. But overdraft fees? Not so much. And yet, that’s the average fee the country’s largest banks charge customers who overdraw their accounts, according to a NerdWallet study. These fees occur when banks approve transactions that exceed an account’s balance. They are often assessed per transaction, so customers could face multiple fees in a day.

The study also found that the average credit union overdraft fee is nearly $10 less than that of large banks. Other institutions, including some online banks, don’t offer overdraft programs, and so debit card transactions that would overdraw an account are declined. That means the customer wouldn’t be charged an overdraft fee at all.

» Skip ahead for three ways you can reduce overdraft fees

In our analysis, we calculated the average fee at institutions that charge for overdraft protection and outlined ways customers can reduce or avoid these costs.

Key findings:

• $35: The average per-item overdraft fee in September 2019 for personal checking accounts at the country’s largest banks.

• $26: The average per-item overdraft fee in September 2019 for personal checking accounts at the country’s largest credit unions.

• 58%: The percentage of surveyed banks that charge overdraft fees that indicate they also charge continuous overdraft fees for accounts that remain negative for several days.

How overdrafts occur

Customers have to first “opt in” to a bank’s overdraft protection program. This gives the institution permission to clear a transaction even if there is not enough money to cover it in the account. If you’re unsure about whether you’re enrolled in an overdraft program, contact your bank to verify where you stand. Though customers have to opt in to the program, approval for each transaction happens at the bank’s discretion. If cleared, the bank generally charges an overdraft fee.

Imagine this scenario

At the beginning of the month, Jackie authorizes payment for her electric bill, due on the 15th. But by the time the due date rolls around, she has had a few unexpected expenses. Her bank account balance is low. The electric bill is processed as scheduled, but it sends the account into negative territory. Later that day, without checking her account’s balance, Jackie buys lunch using her debit card, and uses the card once more to pick up detergent later that evening. The bank approves all three transactions, but issues $35 overdraft fees for each.

Jackie is charged $105 in overdraft fees. That’s one night out on the town that Jackie is now without.

And things may still get worse for Jackie. More than half of the banks surveyed charge extended overdraft fees — also called “continuous” or “sustained” fees — for accounts not brought up to a positive balance within a few days. Extended overdraft fees can range from $6 to $38.50, with some recurring on a daily basis, depending on how long the account stays negative.

If an account is not brought up to a positive balance, the bank could close it and report the account to a consumer reporting agency, such as ChexSystems. Having a ChexSystems file can make it harder to open a new account elsewhere. (Read more about how to clear up your ChexSystems record.)

Three ways to avoid or reduce overdraft fees

If you are charged an overdraft fee, it’s worth asking your bank or credit union for a fee waiver. The institution may forgive the charge, especially if you have a good deposit history and no previous overdrafts. You may also want to ask your bank if it has a formal forgiveness program. Some institutions have policies to waive the first fee charged each year. Here are some other ways to avoid future fees:

1. Set up a linked account for overdraft transfers. Banks generally will let customers designate a savings account or line of credit to serve as a backup source of funds in case the checking account is overdrawn. Some banks offer this service free of charge. Others may assess a transfer fee of around $10. It’s a cost, but it’s much smaller than the typical overdraft fee. If the backup account is a line of credit, customers will also need to pay interest on the amount borrowed.

2. Opt out of overdraft coverage. If you’re signed up for an overdraft program, ask your bank to remove you. Without the protection, any debit card transactions that would overdraw your account would be declined at the point of sale. A rejected card may be inconvenient, but you wouldn’t have to worry about overdraft fees. If you write a check that overdraws your account, however, you might still be charged a nonsufficient funds fee, even if the check is returned.

3. Consider switching to a bank that doesn’t offer an overdraft program. While you can ask to opt out of overdrafts at any bank, you also have the option of switching to an institution that doesn’t have an overdraft program, so it wouldn’t charge fees. As noted above, any debit card merchant transactions that could overdraw your account would be denied. (Read our primer on how to avoid overdraft fees for additional tips).

Some banks have policies that limit the number of overdraft fees they will charge a customer per day. Others don’t have overdraft programs and don’t charge overdraft fees. To compare, you can read this overview of recent overdraft fees at various institutions.

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