BANK FEES EXPLAINED
How to get overdraft fees refunded: ask, check the rules, then escalate
Banks can waive an overdraft fee, and sometimes the fee should not have been charged at all. We read the federal opt-in rule, the CFPB and OCC complaint pages, six big banks' own overdraft pages and the SunTrust settlement website on October 26, 2026. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.
THE SHORT ANSWER
To get overdraft fees refunded, ask your bank for a courtesy refund, giving the date and amount, then check whether the fee was allowed. Under Regulation E, a bank may not charge an overdraft fee on an ATM withdrawal or one-time debit card purchase unless you opted in. If the bank says no, a complaint to the CFPB or your bank's regulator gets a written response, not a promised refund. Class actions pay only class members; SunTrust's closed to claims on September 14, 2026.
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How to get an overdraft fee refunded
How to get overdraft fees refunded: what to say to your bank
An overdraft fee refund usually starts with one call, chat or secure message to your bank. The OCC says federal law sets no maximum overdraft fee and banks decide their fees, so a fee charged under the bank's disclosed terms is usually refunded only as a courtesy. The OCC also tells customers to try the bank first, before any complaint.
Keep the request short: "I was charged a $35 overdraft fee on October 3. My account is positive again. Can you refund the fee as a courtesy?" If it was a debit card or ATM overdraft, add: "Can you show me when I opted in to debit card overdraft coverage?"
Point out if the fee broke the bank's own published rules or the opt-in rule:
- You were inside a cushion the bank publishes. Chase charges no fee if you end the business day overdrawn by $50 or less, or get back there by the end of the next business day. Wells Fargo charges no fee if both your ending daily balance and available balance are overdrawn by $10 or less, or if you bring your available balance positive by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on the next business day (its Extra Day Grace Period).
- The item was small: Chase charges no overdraft fee on transactions of $5 or less, Wells Fargo none on items of $10 or less.
- It was an ATM or one-time debit card overdraft and you never opted in (next section).
Can a bank charge an overdraft fee if you never opted in?
Not for ATM withdrawals or one-time debit card purchases. Under Regulation E (12 CFR 1005.17), a bank or credit union may not charge an overdraft fee on those unless you opted in. To count, the bank must have given you a separate notice about its overdraft service, a fair chance to say yes, and a written or electronic confirmation of your yes that explains how to cancel it.
The rule does not cover checks, ACH bill payments or recurring debit card payments. Without an opt-in, the bank may still pay a one-time debit card purchase, but it may not charge an overdraft fee for it. If you were charged and do not remember opting in, ask for the bank's record of your consent and the confirmation. If it cannot show them, the fee may not have been allowed, so ask for it back. Cancelling an opt-in later does not require the bank to reverse fees already charged.
How do Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and other big banks handle overdraft fees now?
Big banks now differ a lot on overdraft fees. Capital One (consumer checking), Citi and Truist One Checking say they charge no overdraft fees; the others still charge for some overdrafts. An overdraft fee is for an item the bank pays anyway; a returned-item (NSF) fee is for one it declines or sends back, and Citi and Truist say they charge neither. Confirm on your own account's fee schedule, since terms differ by account and change.
| Bank | Overdraft fee | Most fees a day | Small-overdraft cushion | ATM and one-time debit card overdrafts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase (Total Checking) | $34 per transaction | 3 a business day, up to $102 | No fee if overdrawn by $50 or less at end of day, or back to that by end of next business day; none on transactions of $5 or less | Not published |
| Wells Fargo | $35 per item | 3 a business day, up to $105 | No fee on items of $10 or less, or if overdrawn by $10 or less; Extra Day Grace Period to bring the available balance positive by 11:59 p.m. ET the next business day | Declined unless you opt in to Debit Card Overdraft Service |
| Bank of America (Advantage Plus and Relationship, Standard setting) | $10 per item | 2 a day | Not published | Not authorized when there is not enough money |
| Truist (Truist One Checking) | None, and no other overdraft-related fees | Not applicable | Balance Buffer lets you overdraw up to $100 once the account is 35 days old, with a $100+ direct deposit in the last 35 days | Not published |
| Capital One (consumer checking) | None | Not applicable | Not applicable | Covered with no fee only if you choose that option and meet its deposit rule ($250+ in 2 of the last 3 months) |
| Citi (checking) | None, and no returned item or overdraft protection transfer fees | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not published |
From each bank's own overdraft or account page and Bank of America's Personal Schedule of Fees, checked October 26, 2026. "Not published" means the page we checked does not say. Wells Fargo and Bank of America charge no transfer fee for linked overdraft protection.
What can you do if your bank won't refund the fee?
A complaint to a federal regulator is the next step. The CFPB takes checking account complaints and sends them to the bank, which generally responds within 15 days, or says its response is in progress and answers within 60 days. The CFPB publishes complaints in its public database without details that directly identify you.
For a national bank or federal savings association, you can also file with the OCC at HelpWithMyBank.gov, which has a tool to check who regulates your bank. The OCC says it cannot act as your lawyer or seek monetary compensation for you. Federal credit union members can go to the NCUA at MyCreditUnion.gov.
A complaint gets a written answer from the bank, not a promised refund. Attach your statement and the fee schedule section you rely on.
How does an overdraft fee class action settlement work?
An overdraft fee class action is one lawsuit brought on behalf of a group of customers charged the same kind of fee. Because a bank keeps account records, the parties can often identify class members and their fees from its data and send notices by mail or email. The notice or settlement website says whether you must file a claim form, by when, and how payments are split.
If you fit the class and do not exclude yourself (opt out) by the deadline, you are bound by the settlement and give up your claims whether or not you file, so read any notice that arrives. To learn how class actions differ from individual lawsuits, see our class action vs mass tort guide.
What happened in the SunTrust (now Truist) overdraft settlement?
SunTrust merged with BB&T to form Truist on December 6, 2019, which is why many people search for a Truist overdraft settlement. The case, Bickerstaff v. SunTrust Bank in the State Court of Fulton County, Georgia, claimed certain SunTrust overdraft fees were interest that broke Georgia's usury law; SunTrust denied it. The court granted final approval after a May 26, 2026 hearing.
Class members were Georgia citizens from July 12, 2010 through October 6, 2017 whose SunTrust account was open on June 1, 2010. They paid overdraft fees, and got no refund, on ATM or debit card overdrafts of $500 or less between July 12, 2006 and April 15, 2014. SunTrust agreed to pay up to $240,000,000. After lawyers' fees of one-third, costs and a $200,000 award to the class representative, the rest is split by account in proportion to unrefunded fees plus 7% simple yearly interest through December 31, 2025, with a $5 minimum.
Even though SunTrust's records identified members, each one had to file a claim form for each eligible account by September 14, 2026. That deadline has passed, so claims are closed, and unclaimed account payments stay with SunTrust. Our SunTrust overdraft claim page keeps the record; payment questions go to the settlement administrator.
Is there a federal cap on overdraft fees in 2026?
No. In December 2024 the CFPB issued a rule for the largest banks called Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions. Congress disapproved it under the Congressional Review Act, and Public Law 119-10, signed May 9, 2025, says the rule "shall have no force or effect". The Regulation E opt-in rule and fee disclosure rules still apply.
How can you avoid the next overdraft fee?
A few settings can stop the next fee:
- Opt out. If you opted in to ATM and one-time debit card overdraft coverage, cancel it. The bank can then decline those transactions or pay them, but it cannot charge an overdraft fee for them.
- Link a savings account. Wells Fargo and Bank of America charge no transfer fee to cover an overdraft from a linked account; interest can apply if the linked account is a credit card or line of credit.
- Turn on low-balance alerts in your bank's app, and check your balance before large payments clear.
- Compare accounts. Our Chime vs SoFi guide compares two banking apps' overdraft rules, and bank bonuses lists sign-up offers if you are switching anyway.
How do you find out about an overdraft fee settlement?
If a bank can identify you from its records, the settlement administrator usually sends a notice by mail or email, as SunTrust's did. doddo's claims inbox tracks class action settlements with eligibility, proof rules and deadlines, and links to the official administrator. It does not file claims for you. New accounts are on a waitlist for now, so you can start a check and join the waitlist.
Frequently asked questions
What do I say to get an overdraft fee waived?
Keep it short and specific: "I was charged a $35 overdraft fee on October 3. My account is positive again. Can you refund the fee as a courtesy?" If the fee broke the opt-in rule or the bank's own published terms, say so.
Can a bank charge an overdraft fee if I did not opt in?
Not for ATM withdrawals or one-time debit card purchases. Under 12 CFR 1005.17, the bank needs your opt-in first, but checks, ACH payments and recurring debit card payments are not covered by that rule.
What is the difference between an overdraft fee and an NSF fee?
An overdraft fee is charged when the bank pays an item you did not have the money for. A returned-item or NSF fee is charged when it declines or returns the payment instead. Citi and Truist say they charge neither.
Will the CFPB get my overdraft fee refunded?
Not directly. The CFPB sends your complaint to the bank, which generally responds within 15 days, and the response may include a refund. The OCC says it does not seek monetary compensation for complaints.
Is there a Truist or SunTrust overdraft settlement I can still claim?
No. The SunTrust settlement, for Georgia customers charged overdraft fees from 2006 to 2014, closed to claims on September 14, 2026. Questions about payments go to the settlement administrator listed on suntrustoverdraftclassaction.com.
Did the CFPB's 2024 overdraft rule take effect?
No. Congress disapproved the CFPB's Overdraft Lending: Very Large Financial Institutions rule in Public Law 119-10, signed May 9, 2025, so it has no force or effect.
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