A complete guide to overdraft fees at US banks and credit unions. National benchmarks, how to compare institutions, and strategies to minimize costs.
OD Daily Fee Cap
$120.00median
$3.00 – $600.00·179 institutions
OD Protection Transfer
$5.00median
$0.50 – $75.00·75 institutions
Overdraft (OD)
$30.00median
$0.50 – $40.00·70 institutions
How 78 institutions price this fee. National median: $30.00
An overdraft fee is charged when a transaction exceeds your available balance and the bank covers the difference. These fees typically range from $25 to $38 per occurrence, though some institutions have eliminated them entirely. Overdraft fees remain one of the most significant sources of non-interest income for banks and credit unions.
Overdraft fees vary significantly by institution type, size, and geography. Credit unions generally charge less than banks. Community banks often have lower fees than large national banks. Some institutions have introduced tiered overdraft fees based on the transaction amount.
Link a savings account for automatic overdraft protection transfers (typically $5-$12 per transfer, far less than a standard overdraft fee). Set up low balance alerts. Opt out of debit card overdraft coverage for point-of-sale transactions. Consider institutions that offer overdraft grace periods or have eliminated overdraft fees.