Overdraft Protection

Your accounts are covered in case of a math error or financial emergency. 

When the unexpected happens and your account balance falls short, make sure you’re protected from penalties and embarrassment with one of our overdraft protection options:

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What is Overdraft Protection?

Overdraft Protection applies to all types of transactions and may help protect your account from being overdrawn by automatically transferring funds to your checking account from another account you may have at United Consumers Credit Union for a fee. 

What is Overdraft Privilege?

Overdraft Privilege allows you to overdraw your account up to the disclosed limit for a fee to pay a transaction.

United Consumers Credit Union may provide you a specific Overdraft Privilege limit depending on the type of account you have. You will receive a letter approximately 35 days after account opening, for consumer checking accounts, or after 60 days, for business checking accounts, informing you that Overdraft Privilege has been activated on your account. You do not have Overdraft Privilege until you receive this notification. 

Even if you have Overdraft Protection, such as a transfer from another account, Overdraft Privilege is still available as secondary coverage if the other protection sources are exhausted. 

Please be aware that the Overdraft Privilege amount is not included in your available balance displayed through internet banking, mobile banking, telephone banking or United Consumers Credit Union ATMs.

How Much Does Overdraft Privilege Cost?

When Overdraft Privilege is used, the Overdraft Fee of $30 will be imposed for overdrafts created by checks, ACH, point-of-sale, ATM withdrawals, in-person withdrawals or by other electronic means. If multiple items overdraw your account on the same day, each item will be assessed the appropriate fee. This is the same fee that United Consumers Credit Union charges for items returned to the payee due to insufficient funds. 

All fees and charges will be included as part of the Overdraft Privilege limit amount. Your account may become overdrawn more than the Overdraft Privilege limit amount as a result of the assessment of a fee.  The total negative balance, including all fees and charges, is due and payable upon demand. Depositor and each Authorized Signatory will continue to be liable, jointly and severally, for all such amounts, as described in the Deposit Account Agreement and Disclosure.

What If I Don’t Want Overdraft Privilege?

You can discontinue the Overdraft Privilege service in its entirety at any time by contacting us at 816-325-6900 or sending us an email at [email protected]. Without Overdraft Privilege, your insufficient funds items will be returned to the payee and/or declined at the point of purchase, unless you have Overdraft Protection available to cover the item(s). You will be charged the standard NSF Fee of $30 for all returned items.

What If I Want United Consumers Credit Union to Pay My ATM and Everyday Debit Card Overdrafts (Extended Coverage)?

If you want us to authorize and pay overdrafts caused by ATM and everyday debit card transactions (Extended Coverage), tell us by using one of the methods below.

NOTE: Business accounts automatically have access to Overdraft Privilege for ATM and everyday debit card transactions (Extended Coverage). 

What Else You Should Know

  • A link to another account or a line of credit may be a less expensive option than an overdraft. A single larger overdraft will result in one fee, as opposed to multiple smaller overdrafts. Good account management is the best way to avoid overdrafts. Use our mobile banking, Internet banking, and telephone banking services to keep track of your balance. For additional financial education resources, please visit mymoney.gov.
  • The $30 Overdraft Fee is the same fee amount charged if a check is returned as unpaid. If multiple items overdraw your account on the same day, each item will be assessed an appropriate Overdraft Fee or an NSF Fee of $30. All fees and charges will be included as part of the Overdraft Privilege limit amount. Your account may become overdrawn more than the Overdraft Privilege limit amount because of a fee.
  • There is no limit on the total Overdraft Fees per day we will charge.
  • This describes the posting order for purposes of determining overdrafts. Our general policy is to post items throughout the day and to post credits before debits. Paper checks are posted in check number order, while ATM, ACH and debit card transactions are posted in the order in which the items are received. However, because of the many ways we allow you to access your account, the posting order of individual items may differ from these general policies. Holds on funds (described herein) and the order in which transactions are posted may impact the total amount of Overdraft Fees or NSF Fees assessed.
  • Although under payment system rules, UCCU may be obligated to pay some unauthorized debit card transactions, UCCU will not authorize debit card or ATM transactions unless there are available funds (including Overdraft Coverage Options) to cover the transactions and any fee(s).
  • Giving us your consent to pay debit card and ATM overdrafts on your consumer account (Extended Coverage) may result in you incurring Overdraft Fees for transactions we would otherwise be required to pay without assessing an Overdraft Fee. However, this would allow us to authorize transactions up to the amount of your Overdraft Privilege limit and may also help you avoid overdrafts in excess of your available balance that could result in suspension of your debit card. If you consent to Extended Coverage on your consumer account, it will remain on your account until you otherwise withdraw it.
  • UCCU authorizes and pays transactions using the available balance in your account. UCCU may place a hold on deposited funds in accordance with our Deposit Account Agreement and Disclosure, which will reduce the amount in your available balance. The available balance for checks and ACH items is comprised of the ledger balance, less any holds on deposited funds and any debit card holds, plus the amount of the Overdraft Privilege limit and any available overdraft protection. The available balance for ATM and debit card transactions on accounts with Standard Coverage is the ledger balance, less any holds on deposited funds and any debit card holds, plus any available overdraft protection, but does NOT include the Overdraft Privilege Limit. For accounts with Extended Coverage, the Overdraft Privilege Limit is included in the available balance for authorizing ATM and debit card transactions.
  • Please be aware that the Overdraft Privilege amount is not included in your available balance provided through online banking, mobile banking or UCCU’s ATMs.
  • UCCU will place a hold on your account for any authorized debit card transaction until the transaction settles (usually within two business days) or as permitted by payment system rules. In some cases, the hold may exceed the amount of the transaction.  When the hold ends, the funds will be added to the available balance in your account.  If your account is overdrawn after the held funds are added to the available balance and the transaction is posted to the available balance, an Overdraft Fee may be assessed.
  • Except as described herein, UCCU will not pay items if your account does not contain available funds (including the Overdraft Privilege limit) to cover the item(s) and the amount of any fee(s).
  • UCCU may suspend your debit card if you incur overdrafts in excess of the available balance in your account, including any Overdraft Privilege limit (as described herein). Debit cards on your account will remain suspended until you make sufficient deposits so that your available balance, taking into account any Overdraft Privilege limit, is positive and you contact us.
  • UCCU may also suspend your debit card if your account is overdrawn more than thirty-two (32) consecutive calendar days. Debit cards on your account will remain suspended until you make sufficient deposits so that your account balance is positive.
  • UCCU may also suspend your debit card if we are unable to contact you due to an incorrect mailing address or phone number(s). You must contact us with your correct mailing address and/or phone number(s) to have your debit card reinstated.
  • We will charge a fee of $30 to reactivate your debit card if we suspend your Debit Card.
  • If your debit card is suspended, you will be unable to use your debit card for purchases or to access your account at the ATM, and if you use your debit card for recurring payments, e.g., utilities, you are responsible to make other arrangements for your recurring debit payment(s).
  • An Overdraft Privilege limit of $500 to $750 or $750 to $1,000 with direct deposit will be granted to eligible consumer checking accounts opened at least 35 days in good standing.
  • An Overdraft Privilege limit of up to $1,000, based on account type and if a direct deposit occurs, will be granted to eligible Business Checking accounts opened at least 60 days in good standing.
  • Overdraft Privilege is not a line of credit; it is a discretionary overdraft service that can be withdrawn at any time without prior notice.
  • Overdraft Privilege may be discontinued if you default on any loan or other obligation to us, your account becomes subject to any legal or administrative order or levy, or if you fail to maintain your account in good standing by not bringing your account to a positive balance within thirty-two (32) days for a minimum of one business day. You must bring your account balance positive for at least one business day to have Overdraft Privilege reinstated.
  • Depositor and each Authorized Signatory will continue to be liable, jointly and severally, for all overdraft and fee amounts, as described in the Deposit Account Agreement and Disclosure. The total (negative) balance, including all fees and charges, is due and payable upon demand.
  • If you have any questions about Overdraft Protection or Overdraft Privilege, please call us at 816-325-6900 or visit a UCCU Branch.

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Download the Overdraft Privilege Consent Form.