Banks made $3 billion from overdraft fees in just 6 months: Here's how to avoid paying them

kAm%96 2G6C286 @G6C5C27E 766 :D 23@FE Sbd[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 r@?DF>6C u:?2?4:2= !C@E64E:@? qFC62F Wru!qX[ 2?5 &]$] 32?<D 4@==64E65 Sa]he 3:==:@? :? 4@>3:?65 @G6C5C27E 2?5 ?@?\DF77:4:6?E 7F?5D W}$uX 766D :? ;FDE E96 7:CDE D:I >@?E9D @7 a_ae[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7@@=]4@>^>@?6JQm|@E=6J u@@= |@?6Jk^2m 2?2=JD:D @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^45C]77:64]8@G^AF3=:4^!($^s@H?=@25qF=<s2E2]2DAIQmu656C2= u:?2?4:2= x?DE:EFE:@?D tI2>:?2E:@? r@F?4:= WuuxtrX r2== #6A@CE 52E2k^2m] %92E 4@G6CD d`a 32?<D H:E9 >@C6 E92? S` 3:==:@? :? E@E2= 2DD6ED] $>2==6C 32?<D 2C6 ?@E C6BF:C65 E@ C6A@CE E92E 52E2[ D@ E96 ECF6 ?2E:@?H:56 E@E2= :D 9:896C]k^Am

kAm$6G6C2= >2;@C 32?<D 92G6 4FE @C 6=:>:?2E65 E96:C @G6C5C27E 766D D:?46 a_`h[ AC@G:5:?8 E96:C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7@@=]4@>^>@?6J^32?<D^4964<:?8\244@F?ED^Qm4964<:?8 244@F?EDk^2m 2? 6IEC2 A6C<[ 3FE @G6C2==[ 32?<D 2C6 DE:== C2<:?8 :? 3:==:@?D 7C@> @G6C5C27E 766D]k^Am

k9bmz6J A@:?EDk^9bm

kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ663_h76a7b7_6`65`cb63eca7hde2`7hbQmkDEC@?8m~G6C5C27E 766D 4@DEik^DEC@?8m %96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]4@?DF>6C7:?2?46]8@G^52E2\C6D62C49^C6D62C49\C6A@CED^52E2\DA@E=:89E\4@?DF>6C\6IA6C:6?46D\H:E9\@G6C5C27E\AC@8C2>D^7F==\C6A@CE^Qm2G6C286 @G6C5C27E 766 :D Sbdk^2m[ H:E9 &]$] 32?<D 4@==64E:?8 ?62C=J Se 3:==:@? 2??F2==J]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6`_3feg2hd4bb665dgafbc4_5a5_56c`3QmkDEC@?8mq:8 32?<D 5@>:?2E6ik^DEC@?8m |2;@C 32?<D =:<6 y!|@C82? r92D6 2?5 (6==D u2C8@ 86?6C2E6 >@DE @G6C5C27E 766 C6G6?F6]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ644_d6447`c4e2f7`dch2`cfe75h44ef4QmkDEC@?8ms:DAC@A@CE:@?2E6 :>A24Eik^DEC@?8m {@H6C\:?4@>6[ J@F?86C[ 2?5 F?56CC6AC6D6?E65 8C@FAD 2C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ A2J @G6C5C27E 766D]k^=:mk^F=m

k9bmw@H >F49 32?<D >256 @? @G6C5C27E 766D :? a_ae 2?5 @G6C E:>6k^9bm

kAmq2?<D 2C6 @? A246 E@ 86?6C2E6 @G6C5C27E 766D 2E 23@FE E96 D2>6 =6G6= 2D a_ac 2?5 a_ad[ 4=@D6 E@ Se 3:==:@?[ 27E6C 2 C@F89=J S`]f 3:==:@? 564=:?6 7C@> a_aa E@ a_ab]k^Am

k7:8FC6mk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]DE24<6C]4@>^H^`ag_^:>286D^DE@C:6D^a_ae^_h^ac^@G6C5C27E\766\C6G6?F6\3J\J62C]A?8Q 2=ElQ%23=6 C6A@CE:?8 9@H >F49 32?<D >256 @? @G6C5C27E 766D :? a_ae 2?5 @G6C E:>6]Q DEJ=6lQH:5E9i `__TQ ^mk7:842AE:@?m|@E=6J u@@= |@?6Jk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m

kAm#6G6?F6 7C@> @G6C5C27E 2?5 }$u 766D 5C@AA65 3J ?62C=J 92=7 36EH66? a_`h 2?5 a_ab 2D D6G6C2= >2;@C 32?<D 4FE @C 6=:>:?2E65 E96:C 766D[ H:E9 2 D92CA @?6\J62C 5C@A :? a_a_ 2D A2?56>:4\6C2 DA6?5:?8 A2EE6C?D 2?5 DE:>F=FD A2J>6?ED 3C:67=J C65F465 @G6C5C27ED]k^Am

kAm~G6C5C27E 766 2?5 }$u C6G6?F6 92G6 C:D6? D=:89E=J 7@C EH@ DEC2:89E J62CD D:?46]k^Am

k9bm~?6 32?< 244@F?ED 7@C `hT @7 2== @G6C5C27E 766 C6G6?F6k^9bm

kAmp D>2== ?F>36C @7 E96 =2C86DE 32?<D 5C:G6 >@DE @7 E96 :?5FDECJVD @G6C5C27E 2?5 }$u C6G6?F6]k^Am

k7:8FC6mk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]DE24<6C]4@>^H^`ag_^:>286D^DE@C:6D^a_ae^_h^ac^@G6C5C27E\766D\4@==64E65\3J\32?<]A?8Q 2=ElQ%23=6 C6A@CE:?8 32?<DUR_bhj @G6C5C27E 766 C6G6?F6D 7C@> a_ac\w` a_ae]Q DEJ=6lQH:5E9i `__TQ ^mk7:842AE:@?m|@E=6J u@@= |@?6Jk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m

kAmy!|@C82? r92D6 2=@?6 244@F?E65 7@C 23@FE `hT @7 2== C6A@CE65 @G6C5C27E 2?5 }$u 766D :? E96 7:CDE 92=7 @7 a_ae[ >@C6 E92? 2?J @E96C 32?< :? E96 52E2]k^Am

kAm%9C66 32?<D 244@F?E 7@C >@DE @7 E96 DH:?8 :? @G6C5C27E 2?5 }$u C6G6?F6 D:?46 a_`hi r92D6 2?5 (6==D u2C8@ 2C6 E96 EH@ =2C86DE 4@==64E@CD :? E96 8C@FA[ 2?5 q2?< @7 p>6C:42 >256 E96 566A6DE @G6C5C27E 766 2?5 }$u 4FED @7 2?J 32?< :? E96 52E2]k^Am

kAmq2?< @7 p>6C:42VD @G6C5C27E 2?5 }$u C6G6?F6 76== 7C@> S`]de 3:==:@? :? a_`h E@ S`c_ >:==:@? :? a_ab[ 27E6C E96 32?< =@H6C65 :ED @G6C5C27E 766 2?5 5C@AA65 :ED }$u 766 6?E:C6=J[ 2?5 :E 92D 65865 FA @?=J D=:89E=J D:?46[ E@ S`da >:==:@? :? a_ad]k^Am

kAmr92D6VD C6G6?F6 76== 7C@> Sa]_e 3:==:@? :? a_`h E@ S`]` 3:==:@? :? a_ab[ E96? C64@G6C65 E@ S`]`` 3:==:@? :? a_ad 2?5 :D @? A246 7@C 2 D:>:=2C E@E2= :? a_ae]k^Am

kAm(6==D u2C8@VD C6G6?F6 76== 7C@> S`]f 3:==:@? :? a_`h E@ Shbf >:==:@? :? a_ab 2?5 92D DE2J65 C@F89=J 7=2E D:?46[ 2E Shag >:==:@? :? a_ad[ 244@C5:?8 E@ |@E=6J u@@= |@?6JVD 2?2=JD:D @7 uuxtr 52E2]k^Am

k9bm%96 2G6C286 @G6C5C27E 766 :D Sbd[ 3FE @?6 >2;@C 32?< 492C86D ;FDE S`_k^9bm

kAm%96 EJA:42= @G6C5C27E 766 :D 23@FE Sbd[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 ru!q] %92E 7:8FC6 =:?6D FA 4=@D6=J H:E9 H92E E96 =2C86DE 32?<D 24EF2==J 492C86] u@C 6I2>A=6[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]492D6]4@>^A6CD@?2=^4964<:?8^@G6C5C27E\D6CG:46D^DE2?52C5\@G6C5C27E\AC24E:46Qmy!|@C82? r92D6 492C86D Sbc A6C @G6C5C27E :E6>k^2m[ 42AA65 2E E9C66 766D A6C 52J] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^36EE6C>@?6J923:ED]32?<@72>6C:42]4@>^6?^A6CD@?2=\32?<:?8^2G@:5\32?<\766DQmq2?< @7 p>6C:42 :D E96 6I46AE:@? 2E S`_ A6C @G6C5C27Ek^2m[ 42AA65 2E EH@ 766D A6C 52J[ 5@H? 7C@> Sbd 367@C6 :E 4FE E96 766 :? |2J a_aa[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 32?<]k^Am

k9bm`aT @7 p>6C:42?D A2:5 2? @G6C5C27E 766 =2DE J62Ck^9bm

kAm%H6=G6 A6C46?E @7 p>6C:42?D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7656C2=C6D6CG6]8@G^AF3=:42E:@?D^C6A@CE\64@?@>:4\H6==\36:?8\FD\9@FD69@=5D]9E>QmA2:5 2? @G6C5C27E 766 :? a_adk^2m[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 u656C2= #6D6CG6[ 3FE =@H6C\:?4@>6[ J@F?86C[ 2?5 q=24< 2?5 w:DA2?:4 p>6C:42?D H6C6 >@C6 =:<6=J E@ 92G6 A2:5 @?6]k^Am

k7:8FC6mk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]DE24<6C]4@>^H^`ag_^:>286D^DE@C:6D^a_ae^_h^ac^A6C46?E\@7\8C@FA\E92E\A2:5\@G6C5C27E\766]A?8Q 2=ElQ%23=6 C6A@CE:?8 8C@FAD 2?5 E96:C D92C6 :? A6C46?E286 H9@ A2:5 2? @G6C5C27E 766 :? a_ad]Q DEJ=6lQH:5E9i `__TQ ^mk7:842AE:@?m|@E=6J u@@= |@?6Jk^7:842AE:@?mk^7:8FC6m

kAm%9@D6 D2>6 8C@FAD 92G6 =@H6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7@@=]4@>^>@?6J^C6D62C49^2G6C286\4964<:?8\244@F?E\32=2?46^Qm2G6C286 4964<:?8 244@F?E 32=2?46Dk^2m E92? E96 8C@FAD =6DD =:<6=J E@ @G6C5C27E]k^Am

k9bmw@H E@ 2G@:5 @G6C5C27E 766Dk^9bm

kAm%96 >@DE 5:C64E H2J E@ 2G@:5 2? @G6C5C27E :D E@ 42E49 2 =@H 32=2?46 367@C6 @G6CDA6?5:?8] $@>6 32?<D 92G6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7@@=]4@>^>@?6J^32?<D^8F:56D\E@@=D^32?<D\H:E9\3F586E:?8\E@@=D^Qm2AAD E92E AC@G:56 =@H\32=2?46 2=6CEDk^2m :? C62= E:>6]k^Am

kAm“$6E FA 2 =@H\32=2?46 2=6CE 2?5 EC62E E92E ?F>36C =:<6 :EVD J@FC 24EF2= K6C@[” 25G:D6D |@E=6J u@@= |@?6J A6CD@?2= 7:?2?46 6IA6CE y@6= ~’{62CJ] “p =:EE=6 9625D\FA E6IE E92E D2JD ‘96J[ J@FVC6 86EE:?8 4=@D6’ 8:G6D J@F 2 492?46 E@ C624E H9:=6 :EVD DE:== 2 D>2== 562= :?DE625 @7 2 766]”k^Am

kAmr964<:?8 244@F?E 24E:G:EJ @7E6? 2?5 <66A:?8 2 32D:4 3F586E E@ AC@G:56 2 CF??:?8 D6?D6 @7 :?4@>6 G6CDFD DA6?5:?8 42? 2=D@ 42E49 DA6?5:?8 E92E 2? 2=6CE 2=@?6 >:89E >:DD] x? 255:E:@?[ D@>6 4964<:?8 244@F?ED 2C6 ?@\@G6C5C27E\766 244@F?ED[ H9:49 H2:G6 E96 766 6G6? 7@C 244:56?E2= @G6C5C27ED]k^Am

kAm“x7 J@FVC6 @G6C5C27E:?8 @? E96 C68F=2C[ :EVD 567:?:E6=J H@CE9 DH:E49:?8 E@ 2 32?< H:E9 ?@\@G6C5C27E 766D[” ~’{62CJ D2:5] “~?6 EC256@77 :D E96 36DE ?@\@G6C5C27E\766 244@F?ED =:G6 @?=:?6[ D@ J@FV== ?665 E@ 36 4@>7@CE23=6 32?<:?8 >@DE=J 7C@> J@FC A9@?6] ~? E96 A=FD D:56[ >@DE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7@@=]4@>^>@?6J^32?<D^8F:56D\E@@=D^2C6\@?=:?6\32?<D\D276^Qm@?=:?6 32?<Dk^2m 92G6 ?@ 244@F?E 766D 2?5 8C62E >@3:=6 2AAD[ D@ J@F FDF2==J 4@>6 @FE 29625]”k^Am

k9bmup"Dk^9bm

kAmkDEC@?8m(92E :D E96 2G6C286 @G6C5C27E 766nk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm%96 2G6C286 @G6C5C27E 766 :D 23@FE Sbd[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 r@?DF>6C u:?2?4:2= !C@E64E:@? qFC62F] $@>6 @7 E96 =2C86DE 32?<D 492C86 4=@D6 E@ E92Ei y!|@C82? r92D6 492C86D Sbc A6C @G6C5C27E :E6>[ H9:=6 q2?< @7 p>6C:42 492C86D S`_[ 5@H? 7C@> Sbd 367@C6 :E 4FE 766D :? |2J a_aa]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mw@H >F49 >@?6J 5@ 32?<D >2<6 7C@> @G6C5C27E 766Dnk^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm&]$] 32?<D H:E9 >@C6 E92? S` 3:==:@? :? 2DD6ED 4@==64E65 Sa]he 3:==:@? :? 4@>3:?65 @G6C5C27E 2?5 }$u 766D :? E96 7:CDE 92=7 @7 a_ae[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 |@E=6J u@@= |@?6J 2?2=JD:D @7 uuxtr r2== #6A@CE 52E2] %92E :D @? A246 H:E9 a_ac 2?5 a_ad[ 27E6C C6G6?F6 76== 3J ?62C=J 92=7 36EH66? a_`h 2?5 a_ab]k^Am

k9bm|6E9@5@=@8Jk^9bm

kAm%96 32?<\=6G6= 2?5 :?5FDECJ\H:56 C6G6?F6 7:8FC6D :? E9:D 2CE:4=6 4@>6 7C@> 2 |@E=6J u@@= |@?6J 2?2=JD:D @7 uuxtr r2== #6A@CE 52E2[ $4965F=6 #x[ :E6> #xpsw_ba[ H9:49 4@>3:?6D @G6C5C27E 2?5 ?@?\DF77:4:6?E 7F?5D W}$uX 766 C6G6?F6 @? 4@?DF>6C 56A@D:E 244@F?ED] ~?=J 32?<D H:E9 >@C6 E92? S` 3:==:@? :? E@E2= 2DD6ED 2C6 C6BF:C65 E@ C6A@CE[ D@ E96 E@E2=D :? E9:D 2CE:4=6 5@ ?@E 42AEFC6 E96 6?E:C6 &]$] 32?<:?8 :?5FDECJj E96 ECF6 ?2E:@?H:56 7:8FC6 :D 9:896C]k^Am

kAmuF==\J62C 7:8FC6D 7@C a_`h E9C@F89 a_ad FD6 6249 32?<VD J62C\6?5 Ws64] b`X C6A@CE[ H9:49 C67=64ED E96 7F== 42=6?52C J62C @? 2 4F>F=2E:G6 32D:D] %96 a_ae 7:8FC6 FD6D 6249 32?<VD >@DE C646?E C6A@CE 2D @7 $6AE6>36C a_ae[ H9:49 H2D E96 D64@?5 BF2CE6C WD:I\>@?E9[ y2?F2CJ\E9C@F89\yF?6X C6A@CE 7@C d_f @7 E96 d`a 32?<D 2?5 E96 7:CDE BF2CE6C WE9C66\>@?E9X C6A@CE 7@C E96 C6>2:?:?8 7:G6] p?J 7F==\J62C a_ae 6DE:>2E6 :? E9:D 2CE:4=6 5@F3=6D E96 D:I\>@?E9 E@E2= 2?5 :D 2 C@F89 6DE:>2E6[ ?@E 2 AC@;64E:@?]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7@@=]4@>^>@?6J^C6D62C49^@G6C5C27E\766\DE2E:DE:4D^Qmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2m k6>mH2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7@@=]4@>^>@?6JQmk6>m|@E=6J u@@= |@?6Jk^6>mk^2m k6>m2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2m]k^Am