New Rules for ATM and Debit Card

New Rules for ATM and Debit Card Overdrafts New Federal Reserve rules give debit and ATM card users additional options regarding overdrafts. Banks, credit unions, and other financial institutions must offer you
the ability to make decisions about overdrafts for transactions made with your debit or ATM cards.

Expect your bank to send you an explanation about how it treats overdrafts; Here  are some key things you need to consider when reading the notice:

The basic facts
An overdraft occurs when you make a purchase or ATM transaction but don't have enough money in your account to pay for it. For a fee, your bank will cover you when you become overdrawn. This fee can apply each time you overdraw your account. Generally, banks can cover your overdrafts in one of two different ways:

* Standard overdraft practices. Your bank will cover your transaction for a flat  fee of about $20-30 each time you overdraw your account. For example, if you make a purchase with your debit card for $150 but
only have $100 in your account, your account will be overdrawn by $50 and your bank will charge you a fee. If you then make an ATM withdrawalfor $50, your account will be overdrawn by $100 and you will be charged another fee. In this example, if the fee your bank charges for its standard overdraft practices is $30, you will pay a total of $60 in fees.

* Overdraft protection plans. Your bank may offer a line of credit or a link to your savings account to cover transactions when you overdraw your account. Banks  typically charge a fee each time you overdraw your account, but these overdraft  protection plans may be less expensive than their standard overdraft practices.

The new rules

* You choose. In the past, some banks automatically enrolled you in their standard overdraft practices for all types of transactions when you opened an account. Under the new rules, your bank must first get
your permission to apply its standard overdraft practices to everyday debit card and ATM transactions before you can be charged overdraft fees. To grant this permission, you will need to respond to the notice  and opt in (agree).

* Existing accounts. If you did not opt in (agree), as of August 15, 2010, your bank's standard overdraft practices won't apply to your everyday debit card and ATM transactions. These transactions typically will be declined when you don't have enough money in your account, but you will not be charged overdraft fees.

* New accounts. If you opened a new account on or after July 1, 2010, your bank cannot charge you overdraft fees for everyday debit card and ATM transactions unless you opt in. If you opened a new account before July 1, 2010, your bank will treat you as an existing account holder: you will receive a notice about your bank's standard overdraft practices and will have to decide if you want them for everyday debit card and ATM transactions.

* Flexibility. Whatever your decision, the new overdraft rules give you flexibility. If you opt in, you can cancel at any time. If you do not opt in, you can do so later.

* Checks and automatic bill payments. The new rules do not cover checks
or automatic bill payments that you may have set up for paying bills
such as your mortgage, rent, or utilities. Your bank may still
automatically enroll you in their standard overdraft practices for
these types of transactions. If you do not want your bank's standard
overdraft practices in these instances, talk to your bank; you may or may not have the option to cancel.

Mike