What is Chase Overdraft Protection?

Chase charges a hefty $34 insufficient funds policy. Find out how to avoid fees with their overdraft protection services.

The easiest way to avoid overdraft fees is to sign up for Chase overdraft protection. Once you're enrolled, Chase will transfer money from your savings to cover an overdraft in your checking balance. The process is actually pretty simple.

Take a look at how to get rid of overdraft fees once and for all.

What is an overdraft?

An overdraft is when you don't have enough money in your account to cover a purchase, check or payment. And your bank or credit union pays the transaction for you.

Many banks and credit unions will charge you a fee for covering the transaction. In addition, you're required to repay the overdraft amount.

For example, you can overdraw in ATM transactions, automatic bill payments, and electronic or in-person withdrawals.

Banks and credit unions have different fees for overdraft protection. You should research a bank's overdraft policy before signing up for a checking account. Overdraft fees are one of the biggest and most frustrating charges for banking customers.

Overdraft Services

To help out checking account holders, Chase offers two main overdraft services: overdraft protection and debit card coverage.

1. Overdraft Protection

Chase's overdraft protection feature lets you link your Chase savings account to your checking account. If your checking account doesn't have enough funds to cover the purchase but your savings account does, you can transfer that amount into your checking account.

Screenshot of Chase

This service covers all transactions, including everyday debit card transactions. However, when there isn't enough money in your linked Chase savings account then you'll be charged an overdraft fee.

How to set up Chase overdraft protection on Chase Mobile ® App:

1. Sign in to your Chase Mobile ® App
   
2. Select the checking account you want to have Overdraft Protection
   
3. Swipe up to view the rest of the page
   
4. Select Overdraft protection
   
5. Select Choose account
   
6. Choose the savings account as the Overdraft Protection backup account for your checking account
   
7. Select Done
   
8. Review the Overdraft Protection Service Terms & Conditions and select your agreement
   
9. Select Update protection

2. Debit Card Coverage

Chase offers Debit Card Coverage for everyday debit card transactions. If you're purchasing an item and you don't have enough funds in your account, you can choose "Yes" or "No."

• Select "No" - the purchase will be declined and you won't be charged a fee
  
• Select "Yes" - Chase may cover this transaction and charge a fee. This fee will vary based on your account history, deposits you make and transaction amount.

This service covers everyday debit card transactions only (such as groceries, gasoline or dining out).

How to set up debit card coverage on Chase Mobile ® App:

1. Sign in to your Chase Mobile ® App
   
2. Select the checking account you want to have Debit Card Coverage
   
3. Swipe up to view the rest of the page
   
4. Select Debit card coverage
   
5. Review the Chase debit card coverage Terms & Conditions and select your agreement
   
6. Choose Coverage selection
   
7. Select Update coverage

Overall, Chase's overdraft protection is simpler than their debit card coverage service.

Overdraft Fees

If you incur an overdraft, these are the checking account fees:

• $34 Insufficient Funds Fee per item
  
• $34 Returned Item Fee per check automatic payment
  
• If a merchant submits the same check or automatic payment multiple times, it may result in both a Returned Item Fee and Insufficient Funds Fee. If Chase returns one of these items, they'll charge you one Returned Item Fee for that item within a 30-day period.
  
• Maximum of three fees per day (total of $102)

If you overdraw your account, you can avoid the overdraft fee. Just deposit or transfer funds into your account to cover the payment before the business day ends. Here are the cutoff times:

• At a branch, before it closes
  
• At an ATM, before 11PM ET / 8PM PT
  
• On Chase.com or the Chase Mobile ® app or use Chase QuickPay®, before 11PM ET / 8PM PT

There's no fee to enroll in Overdraft Protection or Debit Card Coverage. But Overdraft Protection has fewer potential fees. To make your finances simpler, enroll in Chase Overdraft Protection.

Bottom Line

After opening a Chase bank account, signing up for overdraft protection should be one of the first things you do. You'll avoid headaches and unnecessary fees. And if you don't have a checking account with Chase yet, check out the current Chase coupon promotions.