Banks have long walked a thin line on overdrafts. They are a sore point for many consumers, but the fees generate billions of dollars of revenue each year. Now the Federal Reserve has stepped in to craft new regulations aimed at preventing complaints like Becnel’s.
Starting July 1, the rules will prohibit banks from automatically charging overdraft fees. Instead, consumers can decide whether they want to use the service or would rather simply have their debit cards declined. In addition, some banks have stopped charging overdraft fees if the account is a few dollars in the hole — eliminating the infamous $40 cup of coffee — and are capping the number of charges each day.
According to market research firm Mintel, about 25 percent of consumers it surveyed this spring indicated they would enroll in overdraft services. About 15 percent said they did not want to sign up, and the rest were either unsure or were not aware of the changes.
Banking experts and even industry groups have warned that banks will need to replace the revenue they have long collected in overdraft fees. That means people might find that the fees have disappeared, only to resurface elsewhere in the form of a maintenance fee on their checking accounts, for example.
Full story: New overdraft rules could force banks to recoup revenue through other charges