An overdraft occurs when you do not have enough money in your account to cover a transaction, but we pay it anyway.

The Federal Reserve issued Regulation E concerning overdraft fees that financial institutions may charge their consumer checking account customers. The rule prohibits financial institutions from charging consumer checking account customers overdraft fees on ATM and one-time debit card transactions unless a consumer consents, or opts in, to the overdraft service for those types of transactions. The final rule does NOT require credit unions to pay overdrafts on checks or to authorize and pay any overdrafts on ATM or one-time debit card transactions; however, it does permit credit unions to offer consumers a choice regarding overdraft services for checks.

The regulation applies to only consumer checking accounts.

The regulation applies to only ATM and one-time debit card transactions on consumer checking accounts.

A one-time debit card transaction is a transaction where the consumer uses a debit card at a point-of-sale (for example, at a merchant or a store), in an online transaction, or in a telephone transaction. A recurring debit card transaction is a transaction in which the cardholder provides his/her debit card or debit card number to a merchant for payment of services that are provided on a regular basis. Examples of this include using a debit card to pay for your utilities, cell phone, gym membership, and other types of regularly recurring services provided by the merchant.

A service under which the credit union assesses a fee or charge on a consumer’s account for paying a transaction (including a check or other item) when the consumer has insufficient or unavailable funds in the account. We pay overdrafts at our discretion, which means we do not guarantee that we will always authorize and pay any type of transaction. If you do not have a sufficient memo-ledger balance in your consumer checking account or if you attempt a transaction that exceeds the ATM/debit card withdrawal limitations, we will decline ATM and/or debit card transactions.

Alternative overdraft services that protect consumers from overdrafts such as, an automatic transfer from another deposit account held or an automatic draw against a line of credit to bring the overdrawn account back to a zero balance or a pre-established minimum balance. The consumer is required to apply, enroll, or authorize such services. The credit union must approve a line of credit and it is subject to loan underwriting criteria.

Depending on what checking account you are enrolled in, overdraft coverage is available to eligible members for up to $800 including fees.

Each item that causes an overdraft will be charged a $33 fee.

Debit card overdrafts must be repaid within 30 days. Your limit is replenished by making a deposit of cash, checks, ACH credits or a transfer from another account into your checking account.

Bridge Credit Union does not post debit card transactions to your account until the merchant submits the transaction to us for payment. The timing can vary for debit card transactions from the very same day to several days later. In rare circumstances – such as using your debit card online to buy an item that is back-ordered – the merchant could submit the transaction several weeks later.

Due to the timing variation described above, you may have sufficient funds in your checking account at the time the ATM or one-time debit card transaction is authorized but may not have sufficient funds in your account by the time the transaction is finally submitted by the merchant for posting to your account due to posting of intervening transactions. In addition, merchants such as gas stations and hotels that request a debit card pre-authorization request the authorization for less than the actual transaction and may place a “hold” for more than the actual transaction to try to ensure they get paid for their product/service which may affect your checking account balance. You should ask for a merchant’s pre-authorization policy prior to transaction authorization.

Bridge Credit Union authorizes ATM and debit card transactions using the available balance of your checking account. The available balance is the balance at the end of the prior day plus any ACH transactions being posted the current day.

• Download the Bridge Credit Union app and use features like our card control transaction alerts. Check your balance, transfer money, anytime & anywhere.
• Sign-up for eAlerts, they alert you by e-mail or text message to your mobile phone when your balance falls below a minimum threshold set by you or when checks/automatic deposits/withdrawals post to your account.
• Learn more about our Remote Services.

Debit card transactions in excess of your balance will not be authorized.