Banking 101: Overdraft Protection: What is it and How Does It Work?

Overdraft protection is a service that prevents you from paying extra fees if your checking account balance drops below zero. Overdrafting occurs when you spend more money than you have in your checking account — it’s something that can happen to even the smartest and most fiscally responsible consumers. Read on to understand exactly how overdraft protection works, what fees you could end up paying and whether the service is worth using.

What is overdraft protection?

Overdraft protection is defined as a service that prevents you from paying non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees. Banks and credit unions charge you an NSF fee if you write a check, withdraw an amount at an ATM or make a debit card purchase for an amount that is greater than the funds available in your checking account.

NSF fees typically range from around $20 to $35, and most banks will charge multiple NSF fees per day if you’ve overdrawn your account and keep making purchases. So if you were out shopping and didn’t realize that your account was overdrawn, you could end up being charged multiple NSF fees each time you pay for things with your debit card. Overdraft protection is one way to avoid this scenario.

How does overdraft protection work?

Many, if not most, banks and credit unions offer overdraft protection services. Financial institutions offer three main types of overdraft protection plans:

• Regular overdraft protection: Your institution covers the amount you overdraft in each transaction. The institution then charges you a fee for each overdraft, up to a daily limit.
• Overdraft protection via linked account: Your institution allows you to link your checking account to another account, such as a savings, money market, credit card or second checking account. Your primary checking draws funds from the linked account if you’re overdrawn. Overdrafts paid for with fund transfers may still trigger a fee.
• Overdraft protection line of credit: Your institution provides you with a line of credit that provides funds to cover overdrafts. A variable interest rate is charged for the line of credit, and each overdraft may still incur a fee.

It’s important to understand that your bank or credit union’s overdraft protection plan is voluntary. These programs used to come automatically with many checking accounts, but in 2010 the Federal Reserve issued a rule that prevented financial institutions from automatically enrolling their customers in overdraft protection.

Overdraft protection example

Say you have $900 in your checking account, and you write a $1,000 check to pay your monthly rent. By the time you realize you’ve overdrafted your account, it’s too late: The check has been cashed and your account is now $100 in the negative.

That’s where your overdraft protection steps in. Perhaps you’ve linked your checking account to a separate savings account, which has more than enough money to cover the difference. Your bank will automatically transfer some of that money over to pull you out of the negative. But remember, most banks and credit unions charge a fee for overdraft protection.

How much are overdraft protection fees?

Overdraft protection fees and policies vary by bank or credit union. Overdraft fees can range between $10 and $15. Here are a few examples:

• Wells Fargo overdraft protection: Wells Fargo charges $12.50 to transfer funds from your savings account, as well as $12.50 from a line of credit account. However, if you have a home equity line of credit account linked to the bank’s Portfolio Checking account service, there’s no fee.
• Bank of America overdraft protection: Bank of America charges a $12 fee to transfer funds from a linked checking or savings account; however, there’s no fee for overdrafts of $1 or less.
• Chase Bank overdraft protection: Chase Bank doesn’t charge any fee for its overdraft protection service; however, the bank does note that customers will be charged a $5 savings withdrawal fee if they transfer funds from their savings account more than six times per month.

Another thing to keep in mind: You’ll face potentially high APRs if you opt into a line of credit instead of a checking or savings account. It’s worth checking with your bank on this one, but many rates are around 20% of the overdrafted amount.

How to avoid overdraft fees

If you decide not to enroll in an overdraft protection program, you have alternatives. First and foremost, avoid letting your balance drop below zero. That’s not always easy, but here are some helpful methods to avoid overdrafts: 

• Set up low-balance alerts: You can ask your bank to notify you if your account drops below a certain amount. These alerts can come as texts, emails or even push notifications — that way, you can choose that option that will reach you most easily.
• Check your balance often: This one sounds simple, but it never hurts to check your bank accounts at least once a day. In addition to helping you avoid overdrafting, it will also keep you aware of your daily spending habits.
• Create a budget: If you’re worried about overspending, keeping a budget is a great way to limit your purchases. Taking a hard look at your finances will allow you to see where you can cut costs and live within your means.
• Use a prepaid card: These paid-in-advance debit cards aren’t linked to a bank account, meaning there’s no way you can spend more than you have. It’s easy to add funds to a prepaid card — you can do so at most grocery stores and convenience stores — making this an easy option if you know you’ll be making several purchases in a short time span.

Overdraft protection pros and cons

Is overdraft protection a good idea?

Overdraft protection can be a great way to avoid costly NSF fees and ensure that you always have enough money to make purchases — but on the other hand, it might not be worth signing up if you’re not someone who’s worried about overdrafting often and exchanging one kind of fee for another. Everyone’s financial situation is different, so it ultimately depends on your own experience and spending habits.

You also have to consider the cost, as you could face annoying fees or high interest rates, depending on what’s linked to your checking account. Ultimately, it’s worth assessing your spending habits — and comparing the options available at your bank — before making a final decision.

Fees mentioned in the article are accurate as of the date of publishing.