Frustrated man looking at computer with hand on his head
Frustrated man looking at computer with hand on his head

frequently asked questions about overdraft fees

Overdraft explained

Sometimes life can throw you a curveball. When you don't have enough money in your account to cover a transaction, but the bank pays it anyway, that's considered an overdraft. To help you avoid fees, we've simplified our overdraft policy.

$25
$25

Buffer

When your account has been overdrawn, you get a $25 buffer. That means if your account's available balance is overdrawn by $25 or less, you won't be subject to the Overdraft Paid Item Fee.

$0
$0

Returned Item Fee

If your transaction doesn't go through due to insufficient funds, you won't get charged a fee for the returned or declined transaction. (On your statement, you may see a fee initially charged and subsequently reversed upon being returned/declined.) If the bank does pay for the transaction, you may be subject to the $25 Overdraft Paid Item Fee.

Plus...

Maximum of 2 Overdraft Paid Item Fees Per Day: When we pay items on your behalf, a daily limit of two (2) Overdraft Paid Item Fees may be charged, even if the number of overdrafts exceed two (2). 

No Overdraft Notification Fee: If an account remains overdrawn, we'll notify you, but you won't be charged a fee for this notification.

Frequently asked questions

We're always evaluating our products and services to ensure we're providing you with the best possible solutions. Effective June 1, 2022, we've made some changes to our overdraft policies:

No Overdraft Returned Item Fee: We have removed the Overdraft Returned Item Fee (from $35 to $0). If a transaction is returned or declined by us, we no longer charge a fee. (On your statement, you may see a fee initially charged and subsequently reversed upon being returned/declined.) If we do pay for the transaction, you may be subject to the Overdraft Paid Item Fee.

Lower Overdraft Paid Item Fee: We have decreased the Overdraft Paid Item Fee from $35 to $25. This fee may be assessed when a transaction is permanently paid by us and your available balance is insufficient to cover the transaction. 

$25 Buffer: We have increased the buffer from $10 to $25. When a transaction makes your available balance negative, we give clients a buffer. If your account is negative by $25 or less, you will not be subject to the Overdraft Paid Item Fee.

Maximum of 2 Overdraft Paid Item Fees Per Day: We have decreased the maximum Overdraft Paid Item Fees per day from four (4) to two (2). When we pay items on your behalf, a daily limit of two (2) Overdraft Paid Item Fees may be charged, even if the number of overdrafts exceeds two (2).

No Overdraft Notification Fee: We have removed the Overdraft Notification Fee. If an account remains overdrawn, we'll notify you but no longer charge an Overdraft Notification Fee.

Lower Overdraft Protection Fee (Ready Reserve): We have decreased the Overdraft Protection Fee (Ready Reserve) from $12 to $5. Now when tapping into your Ready Reserve to pay an overdraft, the advance fee is lowered to $5.

All other terms and conditions regarding your account(s) remain in effect.

Tools to help avoid overdrafts

blue arrow outline with blue money sign inside
blue arrow outline with blue money sign inside

Dynamic Transfer / Ready Reserve

Dynamic Transfer is a service that transfers money from another one of your checking, savings or money market accounts to cover overdrafts. We also offer Ready Reserve, a personal line of credit that can be used to cover overdrafts.1

blue outline of mobile phone with a blue exclamation mark in the middle of the phone
blue outline of mobile phone with a blue exclamation mark in the middle of the phone

Account alerts

Be in the know 24/7 when you monitor your account by creating customized text, email, push notification, or phone call alerts. You can receive notifications based on account balances, transactions, login activity, and more.2

Additional resources

Man holding smartphone with credit score on screen

How do credit scores work?

Couple sitting at table looking at smartphone

First Financial Bank eliminates and reduces overdraft fees

1 Subject to credit review and approval.

2 Standard messaging and data rates apply.

Between 9PM EST and 5AM EST on weekdays, your balance may not be updated while we are processing transactions. Please check your balance outside of those times for a more current balance.

Alerts may not be instantaneous and frequency depends on user preferences and account activity. Alerts may be delayed, undelivered, or otherwise impacted by other factors including, but not limited to, service outages affecting your phone, wireless, or internet provider, technology failures, and system capacity limitations.