Banking What Is an Overdraft? By Miranda Marquit Updated on November 30, 2022 Reviewed by Charles Potters In This Article View All In This Article How Does an Overdraft Work? Example of an Overdraft Overdraft Protection Overdraft Fees Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Photo: shironosov / Getty Images Definition An overdraft refers to when a transaction exceeds your available balance, but your bank or credit union covers the transaction anyway. Key Takeaways An overdraft can allow transactions to go through, even if you don’t have available funds in your account.Banks offer different types of overdraft protection that can allow you to continue to pay bills, even if you don’t have money in your account, often for a fee.Overdraft fees can be expensive and increase the cost of a transaction.Even if you don’t have overdraft protection, a transaction might still go through and result in a fee.Review your bank’s policies to understand when and how it handles overdrafts. How Does an Overdraft Work? An overdraft occurs when a transaction exceeds your available balance, and your bank or credit union covers the cost. With an overdraft, the financial institution still expects you to make good on the amount it fronted you. On top of that, you’re often charged a fee related to an overdraft, making the transaction even more expensive. An overdraft can be triggered by any action that results in a negative account balance. This might include: An automatic payment deducted from your account when you don’t have enough money to cover the cost A check you wrote being deposited and deducted from your account later than expected, and you don’t have the available funds to cover your next purchase Making a debit card purchase in person or online and it is approved, even though there isn’t enough money in your account to cover it When you make a purchase that brings your account balance below zero, banks decide whether to decline the purchase or pay it for you, overdrawing your account. Most of the time, a bank or credit union will base the overdraft on your available balance—the amount of money in your account that you can spend, withdraw, or cover transactions. Sometimes, your listed balance is different from your available balance, so be sure to check your available balance and verify what the bank actually believes you can spend. Additionally, know that banks might order transactions in different ways, reducing your available balance. For example, a debit might be taken out before a credit is applied, which can result in an overdraft, even if you think you have sufficient funds in your bank account. Note Depending on the bank, overdrafts will be handled in various ways. There isn’t one way to handle an overdraft. Additionally, there are different fees associated with each type of overdraft transaction and action. Example of an Overdraft Imagine that you started a new job and are waiting on your first paycheck from a new job. Your checking account balance is $125, but that will change once your pay comes through. However, there's an issue with your payment and your paycheck is two days late. In the meantime, thinking your pay went through, you spend $150 on groceries. The transaction exceeds your balance, meaning you've overdrafted your account. Overdraft Protection Overdraft protection is an agreement between you and your bank to cover overdrafts on a checking account, which often includes a fee. If you choose overdraft protection when you set up an account with your bank, you’re usually offered a few different options: Standard overdraft practice: This is typically the default, covering certain transactions such as automatic payments and recurring debit purchases, including a gym membership or a monthly subscription service. Overdraft protection: In some cases, a bank or credit union might allow you to link your savings account to your checking account as a form of backup. When an overdraft occurs, the bank transfers the money from the linked account and deposits it in the transaction account. Depending on the institution, this service might be free. Debit card coverage: If you want your debit transactions to go through, even if they aren’t recurring bills, you can ask about this service. Usually, though, there is a fee associated with each transaction. Your bank may use varying terms when referring to types of overdraft choices, so it’s important to carefully read each description. Additionally, you can decline overdraft protection and save money on overdraft fees. However, if a payment is returned due to insufficient funds, you may still be on the hook for a returned payment fee. Overdraft Fees Fees vary according to bank or credit union, with some banks charging no overdraft fees at all. Pay attention, too, because some banks and credit unions classify overdraft protection as a line of credit. If that’s the case, you may end up paying interest on the amount of the overdraft until you pay the amount advanced to you by your financial institution. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How does an overdraft work? An overdraft happens when you try to make a transaction that requires more money than what you have in your account. In some cases, the transaction will fail. If you have overdraft protection, the transaction may bo through but result in an overdraft fee. How does an overdraft get paid back? Typically, the bank takes money out of your checking account to cover the cost of the overdraft and the fee. Overdraft transactions leave you with a negative account balance that you can change to a positive balance by making a deposit to cover the overdraft transactions. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "What Is an Overdraft?" U.S. Bank. "What Types of Overdraft Options Does U.S. Bank Offer?" Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "My Bank/Credit Union Offered to Link My Checking Account to a Savings Account, a Line of Credit, or a Credit Card to Cover Overdrafts. How Does This Work?"