6 Best Banks for Overdrafts 2024 - NerdWallet (2024)

SoFi charges no overdraft fees, and customers can also opt into two different options to cover their accounts in case of an overdraft. The first option is free overdraft protection, which automatically transfers money from a customer's savings balance to cover the transaction. The second option is no-fee overdraft coverage, where SoFi will cover a debit card transaction that would result in an overdraft of up to $50, as long as a customer qualifies by making $1,000 or more in direct deposits per month.

Ally has no overdraft fees for any of its accounts, and there are two options for overdraft protection. The first option is to set up free overdraft protection transfers from a linked Ally savings account or money market account. The transfer will be rounded to the nearest $100 and sent to the customer’s checking account. The second option is Ally’s CoverDraft service, which provides up to $250 in coverage in case a customer overdrafts. A customer can qualify for CoverDraft 30 days after making a $100 deposit into their checking account, which means they receive basic overdraft coverage up to $100. If a customer deposits at least $250 for two months in a row, they qualify for up to $250 in coverage. If a customer overspends, their next deposit will apply to their negative balance, and they have 14 days to bring their account back to a positive balance.

Chime charges no overdraft fees, and customers have access to Chime’s SpotMe® program for no-fee overdraft. Customers can qualify by making a monthly direct deposit of $200 or more and activating their Chime Visa debit card, and they are initially given a $20 overdraft limit that can eventually be increased to $200.

Chime says: "Chime SpotMe is an optional service that requires a single deposit of $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to the Chime Checking Account each month. All qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their account up to $20 on debit card purchases and cash withdrawals initially, but may be later eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on member's Chime Account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. Your limit will be displayed to you within the Chime mobile app. You will receive notice of any changes to your limit. Your limit may change at any time, at Chime's discretion. Although there are no overdraft fees, there may be out-of-network or third party fees associated with ATM transactions. SpotMe won't cover non-debit card transactions, including ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, or Chime Checkbook transactions. See Terms and Conditions."

Self-Help Credit Union charges no overdraft fees and offers two ways to cover an overdraft: a free overdraft protection transfer service from a linked account and an overdraft line of credit.

There are a few things to consider with Self-Help Credit Union. To become a member, you can join for free if you live, work, worship or attend school in the credit union’s eligible counties based in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. If you aren’t eligible that way, then you can pay a one-time $5 fee to join.

Note that there is also a $5 monthly service fee for Self-Help Credit Union’s checking account, which is waived if you are under 24 years old, over 65 years old, make $500 or more in direct deposits per month, or maintain a daily combined balance of $2,500 or more in your Self-Help Credit Union accounts.

Alliant Credit Union doesn’t charge overdraft fees, and it offers two free services that customers can enroll in to cover overdrafts. The first service is overdraft protection, where customers can transfer funds from their linked Alliant savings account to cover an overdraft. With the second service, courtesy pay, Alliant will cover checks, electronic payments and transfers that extend beyond the amount that your overdraft protection would cover. To qualify for courtesy pay, customers must be Alliant Credit Union members for six months and transfer $600 per month into their checking account. The overdraft amount must also be paid back immediately.

Navy Federal Credit Union has a relatively low overdraft fee of $20 per occurrence with a maximum charge of one overdraft fee per day. Customers can opt out of overdrafts — meaning a transaction will be declined if it would result in an overdraft — or customers can use two different overdraft coverage options. The first option is a free overdraft protection transfer from their savings account, and the second is a checking line of credit, which charges an interest rate from 13.9% to 17.9% APR.