What you need to know
Nobody likes to bounce a check. There are penalty fees to contend with, not to mention the embarrassment. For these reasons, some people opt for overdraft protection on their checking accounts.
Overdraft protection connects your checking account to another account you hold with the bank, such as a savings account, credit card or line of credit. If you bounce a check, the bank will cash it, drawing money from the account of your choice.
To sign up for overdraft protection, you must already have or open an additional account with your bank, be it savings, credit card or line of credit. You’ll also have to be deemed creditworthy by your bank.
Beginning in 2010, banks have stopped providing automatic ATM and debit card overdraft protection. Instead, customers have to sign up for such coverage.
Customers who decide not to “opt in” to such a service will have debit card purchases or ATM withdrawals declined if they exceed the dollar amount available in their existing balances.
Overdrafts triggered by checks and ACH transfers still are covered automatically.
