Overdraft Services FAQs

1. The Overdraft Setting for your eligible checking account determines how the bank handles your transactions when you don't have enough money in either your eligible checking account or your linked eligible Overdraft Protection account at the time of the transaction.
2. Overdraft Protection automatically transfers available funds from your linked savings or eligible second checking account, or credit card to your eligible checking account if you overdraw it.
3. Online Banking and Mobile Banking allows you to access your account information 24/7 and helps you keep track of your account balance. Enroll in Online Banking
4. Online or Mobile Banking Alerts allows you to receive email Alerts when there's important activity on your account, such as a low balance. Enroll in Online Banking

Overdraft Protection is an optional service you can sign up for that links your eligible Bank of America checking account to another Bank of America account – such as a savings account, eligible second checking account, or credit card – and automatically transfers available funds from the linked account to cover your transactions. The service is designed to give you more flexibility when you need to make purchases and don't have enough money in your checking account at the time of the transaction. Overdraft Protection helps prevent declined transactions, returned checks or other overdrafts on your accounts.

The Overdraft Setting for your checking account determines how the bank handles your transactions when you don't have enough money in your checking account or your linked Overdraft Protection account at the time of the transaction. We pay overdrafts at our discretion based on factors such as the purchase or withdrawal amount and your account history, which means we don't guarantee that we'll always authorize and pay any type of transaction. We typically don't pay overdrafts if your account isn't in good standing. We reserve the right to require you to pay overdrafts immediately.

We do not authorize and pay Overdrafts for everyday non-recurring transactions. We also do not authorize and pay ATM transactions, unless you agree to have your account overdrawn.

Overdraft Protection

Overdraft Protection links your eligible Bank of America checking account to another Bank of America account – such as a savings or eligible second checking account, or a credit card. Overdraft Protection automatically transfers available funds from the linked account to help cover purchases, prevent returned checks and declined items if you don't have enough money in your eligible checking account.

Bank of America offers convenient ways to set up Overdraft Protection

On our website

1. Sign in to Online Banking
2. Click the Help & Support tab, and then click More topics
3. Select Checking, savings and debit card
4. Next select View/Edit Overdraft Protection

Not an Online Banking customer? Enroll in Online Banking today

Contact Us

Schedule an appointment at a financial center or call 800.432.1000 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-11 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-8 p.m., all times ET). Outside the U.S. call 1.315.724.4022 (international collect; cell phone roaming charges may apply).

Most checking accounts and certain savings accounts can be linked to receive Overdraft Protection. You cannot get Overdraft Protection with a SafeBalance Banking^® account.

We offer Overdraft Protection in many ways – through a savings account, credit card, or eligible second checking account.

There's no cost to enroll in Overdraft Protection. You pay for Overdraft Protection only when you use the service. Transfer and other fees may apply when you use this service. With certain Bank of America checking accounts, the Overdraft Protection transfer fee from a second deposit account is waived. (For information, view Fees At A Glance..)

Yes, if there aren't enough funds in your eligible checking account or eligible linked account to cover an item, Overdraft Protection won't occur and you may be charged an overdraft item fee, an NSF: Returned Item fee or your transaction may be declined. That's why it's a good idea to make sure you have sufficient funds or available credit in your linked account in case you may need to use the funds.

Bank of America offers several convenient ways to check if your accounts are linked for Overdraft Protection

On our website

1. Sign in to Online Banking
2. From the Accounts Overview page select the arrow to the left of any eligible account to see that account’s Overdraft Protection status (or to modify the Overdraft Protection Linkages)

Contact Us
Schedule an appointment at a financial center or call 800.432.1000 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-11 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-8 p.m., all times ET). Outside the U.S. call 1.315.724.4022 (international collect; cell phone roaming charges may apply).

Bank of America offers several convenient ways to check if your accounts are linked for Overdraft Protection

On our website

1. Sign in to Online Banking
2. From the Accounts Overview page select the arrow to the left of any eligible account to see that account’s Overdraft Protection status (or to modify the Overdraft Protection Linkages)

Contact Us
Schedule an appointment at a financial center or call 800.432.1000 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-11 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-8 p.m., all times ET). Outside the U.S. call 1.315.724.4022 (international collect; cell phone roaming charges may apply).

If you already have Overdraft Protection and request that it be linked to another account, coverage from the existing account will be replaced by the new Overdraft Protection account you have requested.

Your eligible checking account can be linked to any of the following accounts including: savings, an eligible second checking account, or a Bank of America line of credit. Remember to make sure the account you select has enough funds at all times should you need to use Overdraft Protection. You cannot link a SafeBalance Banking^® account to a checking account for Overdraft Protection.

Your eligible checking account can be protected by only one eligible linked account for Overdraft Protection. If you have more than one eligible account that could protect your checking account, select one with sufficient funds or available credit, in case it's needed to cover a transaction

Bank of America offers several convenient ways to change your Overdraft Protection linked accounts

On our website

1. Sign in to Online Banking
2. From the Accounts Overview page select the arrow to the left of any eligible account to see that account’s Overdraft Protection status (or to modify the Overdraft Protection Linkages)

Contact Us
Schedule an appointment at a financial center or call 800.432.1000 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-11 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-8 p.m., all times ET). Outside the U.S. call 1.315.724.4022 (international collect; cell phone roaming charges may apply).

If you already have Overdraft Protection and request that it be linked to another account, coverage from the existing account will be replaced by the new Overdraft Protection account you have requested.

You can link your Overdraft Protection account – such as a savings, eligible second checking, or credit card account – to multiple eligible checking accounts. This can help prevent declined transactions and overdraft fees for multiple eligible checking accounts, provided you have sufficient funds or available credit in the linked account.

You can link your Overdraft Protection account – such as a savings, eligible second checking, or credit card account – to multiple eligible checking accounts. This can help prevent declined transactions and overdraft fees for multiple eligible checking accounts, provided you have enough funds or available credit in the linked account. For example, you can link one savings account to two different eligible checking accounts to serve as a backup for both accounts.

You can change your overdraft settings by scheduling an appointment at a financial center or call 800.432.1000 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-11 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-8 p.m., all times ET). Outside the U.S. call 1.315.724.4022 (international collect; cell phone roaming charges may apply).

The Overdraft Setting for your eligible checking account determines how the bank handles your transactions when you don't have enough money in your eligible checking account or your eligible linked Overdraft Protection account at the time of the transaction. We pay overdrafts at our discretion based on factors such as the purchase or withdrawal amount and your account history, which means we don't guarantee that we'll always authorize and pay any type of transaction. We typically don't pay overdrafts if your account isn't in good standing.

Standard Setting. The Standard Overdraft Setting is automatically applied to new consumer eligible checking accounts (excluding Advantage SafeBalance Banking® account setting, which is automatically set to the Decline All Setting).

With the Standard Setting:

1. ATM withdrawals and every day, non-recurring debit card transactions (individual debit card purchases such as at the grocery store or a one-time online purchase), will only be authorized when we determine you have enough available funds in your account or in your eligible linked Overdraft Protection account at the time of the transaction. Otherwise, we typically decline the transaction and we do not charge an Overdraft Item fee.
2. For other types of transactions-like checks, Online Bill Pay and other electronic payments, as well as recurring debit card payments-we may pay transactions when you don't have enough available funds in your eligible checking account or eligible linked Overdraft Protection account at the time of the transaction.
   1. If we pay a transaction that's larger than your Available Balance and it overdraws your account, this typically results in a charge for each overdraft item, unless you deposit enough available funds that day to cover the overdraft.
   2. If we return the item unpaid, this typically results in a NSF: Returned Item fee.
   3. If you repeatedly overdraw your account, we may automatically change your overdraft setting to the Decline All setting.
3. View our checking accounts for details.

Decline All Setting

You can request a Decline All Overdraft Setting on your account. The Decline All Setting is automatically applied to SafeBalance Banking accounts. With this setting, we only authorize an everyday debit card purchase, ATM withdrawal, check, Online Bill Pay and other electronic payment when we determine there's enough money available in your account or in your linked Overdraft Protection account at the time of transaction.

When there aren't enough funds:

1. For ATM withdrawals and everyday debit card purchases our standard practice is to decline the transaction and not charge an Overdraft Item fee.
2. For checks, Online Bill Pay or other electronic payments, we may return the item and charge a NSF: Returned Item fee. (See below FAQ for information about SafeBalance Banking accounts).

You can change your overdraft settings by scheduling an appointment at a financial center or call 800.432.1000 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-11 p.m. or Sat-Sun 8 a.m.-8 p.m., all times ET). Outside the U.S. call 1.315.724.4022 (international collect; cell phone roaming charges may apply).

With Advantage SafeBalance Banking® accounts, we only authorize an everyday debit card purchase, ATM withdrawal, Online Bill Pay and other electronic payment when we determine there's enough money available in your account at the time of the transaction. When there aren't enough funds:

1. For ATM withdrawals and everyday debit card purchases, our standard practice is to decline the transaction, however we will not charge an Overdraft Item fee.
2. For Online Bill Pay or other electronic payments, we will not pay an item if there's not enough money available in your account at the time of the transaction. We do not charge any NSF: Returned Item fees.

The Decline All Setting is automatically applied to Advantage SafeBalance Banking® accounts and cannot be changed to another setting.

We may give you the opportunity at our ATMs to agree to our ATM Overdraft Services for a specific ATM withdrawal that exceeds your current available balance and if you agree, we authorize and pay that ATM withdrawal. Each time you agree, your consent applies only to that withdrawal. We will also print a receipt with confirmation of your agreement to the Overdraft Services for that withdrawal only. Please note: a $35 Overdraft Item fee applies to that withdrawal if your account remains overdrawn at the end of the day. We inform you at the ATM when this service is available. Overdraft Services are not available at the ATM for SafeBalance Banking^® accounts or accounts with a Decline All Overdraft Setting.

In our standard Overdraft Setting, we may give you the opportunity at our ATMs to agree to our ATM overdraft services for a specific ATM withdrawal that exceeds your current available balance and if you agree, we authorize and pay that ATM withdrawal. We will also print a receipt with confirmation of your agreement to the Overdraft Services for that withdrawal only. Each time you agree, your consent applies only to that withdrawal. Please note: a $35 Overdraft Item fee applies to that withdrawal if your account remains overdrawn at the end of the day. We inform you at the ATM when this service is available. Overdraft Services are not available at the ATM for SafeBalance Banking^® accounts.