Frequently Asked Questions

Overdraft services include how we handle transactions that overdraw your account as well as ways to help prevent overdrafts from occurring. Our Overdraft Services include:

• The Overdraft Setting for your checking account determines how the bank handles your transactions when you don't have enough money in either your checking account or your linked Overdraft Protection account at the time of the transaction.
• Overdraft Protection automatically transfers available funds from your savings or second checking account, credit card, or line of credit to your checking account if you overdraw it. ^{Footnote 1}
• Online Banking, Text Banking and Mobile Banking allows you to access your account information 24/7 and helps you keep track of your account balance. To enroll, visit bankofamerica.com/online
• Online or Mobile Banking Alerts allow you to receive email alerts when there's important activity on your account, such as a low balance. Enroll at bankofamerica.com/online (Mobile Banking available to Online Banking enrollees only. Check with your wireless carrier for fees that may apply.)

Overdraft Protection is a service you can sign up for that links your Bank of America checking account to another Bank of America account—such as a savings account or second checking account, credit card, or line of credit —and automatically transfers available funds when your checking account doesn't have enough money to cover your transactions. ^{Footnote 1} The service gives you more flexibility to make purchases when you don't have enough money in your checking account at the time of the transaction. Be sure to keep enough funds in your linked account. 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 or you aren't making regular deposits. We reserve the right to require you to pay overdrafts immediately. We offer two Overdraft Settings: Standard Overdraft Setting and Decline All Setting.

Overdraft Protection links your Bank of America checking account to another Bank of America account—such as a savings or second checking account, a credit card or line of credit – and automatically transfers available funds when your checking account doesn't have enough money to cover your transactions. ^{Footnote 1} The service gives you the flexibility to make purchases, prevent returned checks and declined transactions when you don't have enough money in your checking account at the time of the transaction. Be sure to keep enough funds in your linked account.

We offer Overdraft Protection in many ways–through a linked savings account, credit card, second checking account, or line of credit. ^{Footnote 1}

In the event that your checking account doesn't have enough money to cover a withdrawal or purchase, Overdraft Protection automatically transfers money into your checking account from your linked account (provided there are funds available in the linked account). ^{Footnote 1}

Regardless of which Overdraft Setting you choose, we encourage you to consider enrolling in Overdraft Protection to protect yourself from overdrafts and declined transactions. If you have (or plan to open) more than one account at Bank of America, then Overdraft Protection may be right for you. With Overdraft Protection, you can link your checking account to a savings account, credit card, second checking account or line of credit. ^{Footnote 1} Then, if the checking account doesn't have enough money to cover a transaction, available funds will be transferred automatically from the linked account. But be sure to keep enough funds in the linked account.

You can set up Overdraft Protection in Online Banking, or you may visit a banking center, or call us at 1.800.432.1000 between Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–10 p.m. ET and Saturday–Sunday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ET. Changes generally take effect after 2 days, but can take up to 10 days, depending on the type of account you've chosen to link to.

The Accounts Overview page in Online Banking displays all of your Bank of America accounts. Select the arrow to the left of any account to see that account's Overdraft Protection status. You can also select the Overdraft Protection status of any account to modify your Overdraft Protection linkages. Or, you can also visit a banking center or call us at 1.800.432.1000 between Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET, and Saturday – Sunday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET.

There's no cost to enroll in Overdraft Protection. You pay for Overdraft Protection only when you use the service. There is a $10 transfer fee on days when we need to transfer funds for you. ^{Footnote 1} With certain Bank of America accounts, the Overdraft Protection transfer fee is waived. Other fees may apply when you use this service. (For information, view Fees At A Glance.)

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

Your checking account can be linked to any of the following accounts including: savings, Money Market Savings, a second checking account or a credit card. Remember to make sure the account you select has enough funds at all times should you need to use Overdraft Protection.

Any checking account and certain money market savings accounts can be linked to receive Overdraft Protection.

Your checking account can be protected by only one 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. You can always change the linked account for Overdraft Protection in Online Banking, or you may visit a banking center, or call us at 1.800.432.1000 between Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET, and Saturday – Sunday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET.

You can link your Overdraft Protection account—such as a savings, second checking, credit card or line-of-credit account—to multiple checking accounts. This can help prevent declined transactions and overdraft fees for multiple 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 checking accounts to serve as a backup for both accounts.

You can always change the linked account for Overdraft Protection in Online Banking, or you may visit a banking center, or call us at 1.800.432.1000 between Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET, and Saturday – Sunday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET

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.

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.

The available Overdraft Settings are:

Standard Setting. Standard Overdraft Setting is automatically applied to new consumer accounts.

With the Standard Setting:

• ATM withdrawals and every day, (non-recurring) debit card transactions – like grocery and retail purchases, will be declined when you don't have enough money in your checking account or linked Overdraft Protection account at the time of the transaction, and you will not pay an Overdraft Item fee.
• Note: there is an exception for some ATM withdrawals: If you request a cash withdrawal at our ATM that exceeds your available balance, we may give you the opportunity to agree to our overdraft services for that specific ATM withdrawal. Customers can revoke their agreement be cancelling the withdrawal. If you agree, we authorize and pay that ATM withdrawal. Your consent applies only to that ATM withdrawal. A $35 Overdraft Item fees applies to that ATM withdrawal if your account remains overdrawn at the end of the day. You can revoke this agreement by cancelling the withdrawal. We will inform you at the ATM when this service is available.
• For other types of transactions—like checks, Online Banking Bill Pay and other electronic payments,— your transaction may be approved when you don't have enough available funds in your checking account or linked Overdraft Protection account at the time of the transaction.
• If we pay a transaction that's larger than your Available Balance and it overdraws your account, this typically results in a $35 charge for each overdraft item.
• If we return the transaction unpaid, this typically results in a $35 NSF: Returned Item fee.
• For recurring payments using your debit card number, such as a monthly phone bill, your transaction may be approved when you don't have enough available funds in your checking account or linked Overdraft Protection account at the time of the transaction. You pay a $35 Overdraft Item fee for each overdraft item.
  However, if we decline your recurring payment, you do not pay an Overdraft Item or NSF: Returned Item fee.

Decline All Setting. Note: Decline-All does not mean you will never pay a fee. Most customers find the Standard Overdraft Setting to be the right fit for their accounts. If you prefer, you can switch to the Decline-All Setting. With this setting, we only authorize or pay a debit card purchase, ATM withdrawal, check, Online Banking 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. However, under certain circumstances, you can still pay a NSF: Returned Item fee when you don't have enough funds in your account.

• For everyday debit card purchases, your transaction is declined and your Overdraft or NSF: Returned Item fee is $0.
• There is an exception for some ATM withdrawals: If you request a cash withdrawal at our ATM that exceeds your available balance, we may give you the opportunity to agree to our overdraft services for that specific ATM withdrawal. Customers can revoke their agreement be cancelling the withdrawal. If you agree, we authorize and pay that ATM withdrawal. Your consent applies only to that ATM withdrawal. A $35 Overdraft Item fees applies to that ATM withdrawal if your account remains overdrawn at the end of the day. You can revoke this agreement by cancelling the withdrawal. We will inform you at the ATM when this service is available.
• For checks, Online Banking Bill Pay or other electronic transactions using your checking account number, your transaction will typically be retuned or declined; you pay a $35 NSF: Returned Item fee for each returned item. You may also be charged other fees by merchants.
• For recurring payments using your debit card number, such as a monthly phone bill, your transaction will be declined and your NSF: Returned Item fee is $0.

You can change your Overdraft Setting by calling 1.800.432.1000, Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–10 p.m. and Saturday–Sunday 8 a.m.–5 p.m., or by visiting a banking center.

Some important information about fees:

• When you use your debit card for everyday, non-recurring purchases and we determine you don't have enough funds in your checking account or linked Overdraft Protection account, our practice is to decline the transaction and your fee is $0.
• Note: there is an exception for some ATM withdrawals: If you request a cash withdrawal at our ATM that exceeds your available balance, we may give you the opportunity to agree to our overdraft services for that specific ATM withdrawal. Customers can revoke their agreement be cancelling the withdrawal. If you agree, we authorize and pay that ATM withdrawal. Your consent applies only to that ATM withdrawal. A $35 Overdraft Item fees applies to that ATM withdrawal if your account remains overdrawn at the end of the day. You can revoke this agreement by cancelling the withdrawal. We will inform you at the ATM when this service is available.
• For other types of transactions—like checks, Online Banking Bill Pay, electronic payments made using your checking account number, we may charge you a fee. If we pay one of these transactions, we charge you an Overdraft Item fee. If we return one of these transactions unpaid, we charge you a NSF: Returned Item fee.
• Note: Recurring debit card transactions do not incur a fee when declined.

If you do overdraw your account, we'll charge no more than a total of 4 Overdraft Item fees and NSF: Returned Item fees per day. If your account remains overdrawn by any amount for 5 or more consecutive business days, you'll incur a $35 Extended Overdrawn Balance Charge.

You can change your Overdraft Setting by calling 1.800.432.1000, Mon. – Fri. 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. ET and Sat. – Sun. 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET, or by visiting a banking center.

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.

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.

Footnote ¹If you enroll in Overdraft Protection with your credit card, overdraft transfers will be cash advances under your credit card Agreement and will accrue interest at the APR stated in your Credit Card Agreement. Please refer to your Credit Card Agreement for additional details.