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Overdraft Services for Consumer (Personal) Accounts

Wells Fargo offers many services to help you manage your account and avoid overdrafts.

The information on this page pertains to Consumer accounts. View more information on overdraft services for business accounts.

1. Overdraft Rewind®

With this automatic feature for Consumer checking accounts, when the Bank receives your electronic direct deposit by 9:00 am local time, we will calculate a new account balance that includes the pending direct deposit (less any pending debits). If this newly calculated balance covers transactions that resulted in overdraft fees during the prior business day's nightly processing, we will waive or refund those fees. We may also reverse returned item (non-sufficient funds/NSF) decisions. Learn more

2. Online, Mobile and/or Text Banking Tools

  • Monitor your account activity, transfer funds, and set up a low balance alert.
  • See "Avoiding Overdrafts" below for details.

Consider our optional Overdraft Services:

We offer two overdraft services to help you manage your checking account. Both services are optional and can be added or removed at any time. If you are enrolled in both services, we will first use Overdraft Protection to cover your transactions. Optional overdraft services, such as Overdraft Protection and Debit Card Overdraft Services, are not available for Clear Access BankingSM accounts.

3. Overdraft Protection

  • You can link up to two eligible accounts (one savings, one credit) to your checking account, and we will use available funds in the linked account(s) to authorize or pay your transactions if you don't have enough money in your checking account.
  • See "Overdraft Protection" below for details.

  Tip  

Take the tour and see how to help avoid overdraft fees.

4. Debit Card Overdraft Service

  • You can choose whether your ATM and everyday (one-time) debit card transactions may be approved, at the Bank's discretion, if you don't have enough money in your checking account or in accounts linked for Overdraft Protection at the time of the transaction.
  • If Debit Card Overdraft Service is used to approve a transaction into overdraft, our standard overdraft fee of $35 per item will apply unless a covering deposit or transfer is made before the cut-off time on the same business day.
  • See "Debit Card Overdraft Service" below for details.

You can learn more about these two optional services in the sections below or by referring to our current Deposit Account Agreement.

Manage Overdraft Services Sign On
Overdraft Services includes Overdraft Protection and Debit Card Overdraft Service.

Overdraft Protection

Eligibility

  • You can link up to two eligible Wells Fargo accounts (one savings and one credit account) to one Wells Fargo checking account for Overdraft Protection. If you link two accounts, you may tell us which account to use first to transfer/advance funds. If you do not specify an order, we will first transfer funds from your linked savings account.
  • If you link a credit card, the credit card must be confirmed in order for the Bank to transfer funds for Overdraft Protection. If the credit card is not confirmed, no money will transfer to cover the overdraft. Once your credit card has been confirmed, please allow up to 3 business days for your Overdraft Protection service to be fully enabled. 
  • Overdraft Protection is not available for Clear Access Banking accounts.

Add, Change or Remove Overdraft Protection

You can add, change or remove Overdraft Protection to your eligible accounts by signing onto Online Banking, talking with a branch banker, or calling a phone banker at 1-800-TO-WELLS (1-800-869-3557).

Fees
  • There are no Overdraft Protection transfer or advance fees for Consumer accounts enrolled in the service.
  • Overdraft Protection advances from a credit account accrue interest from the date each advance is made. See your credit account agreement for details.

For additional information, please also refer to your specific account type in the Consumer Account Fee and Information Schedule or your Business Account Fee and Information Schedule (PDF).

Debit Card Overdraft Service

Key information

You can choose how Wells Fargo handles your ATM and everyday (one-time) debit card transactions in the event that you don't have enough money in your checking account or in accounts linked for Overdraft Protection at the time of the transaction. The payment of transactions into overdraft is discretionary, and we reserve the right not to pay.

Eligibility

Some Consumer checking accounts are not eligible to enroll in Debit Card Overdraft Service, including Clear Access Banking and Teen CheckingSM accounts.

Fee

Our standard overdraft fee of $35 per item will apply if Debit Card Overdraft Service is used to approve a transaction into overdraft and a covering deposit or transfer is not made before the cut-off time on the same business day.

If your checking account is not enrolled in Debit Card Overdraft Service and you don't have enough money in your checking account or in accounts linked for Overdraft Protection, ATM and everyday (one-time) debit card transactions will be declined at the time of the transaction. There are no fees for declined transactions.

See "Avoiding Overdrafts" below for additional Wells Fargo services that can help you manage your account and avoid overdrafts or declined transactions.

Add or Remove Debit Card Overdraft Service

Any account holder with transaction authority on the eligible checking account can add or remove the service at any time by visiting a Wells Fargo ATM (select More Choices, Wells Fargo Services), through Online Banking, talking with a branch banker, or calling a phone banker at 1-800-TO-WELLS (1-800-869-3557).

Avoiding Overdrafts

Consider these services and tips to help you avoid overdrafts.

  • Keep track of your transactions: Record every deposit and withdrawal — including checks, debit card purchases, cash withdrawals, and recurring payments you've set up such as your car payment or gym membership. Visit any Wells Fargo banking location for a free check register.
  • Don’t forget outstanding transactions
    The current available balance provided by the Bank may not include all your transactions, such as checks or upcoming automatic payments.
  • Keep a cushion in your account
    By keeping a little extra in your checking account, you can cover any outstanding transactions that don’t yet appear in your available balance and avoid overdrafts.
  • Review your statements: Reconcile bank statements with your records.
  • Use Wells Fargo Online® and Wells Fargo Mobile® — you can conveniently and securely access and manage your money from your computer, tablet, or mobile device:
    • Mobile Banking — Bank on the go using your mobile device. Monitor account activity, transfer money, and deposit checks using our apps. Learn more about Mobile Banking.
    • Account Alert — Stay informed. Set up a low balance alert to be notified by email, text message, or push notification as soon as your account balance reaches an amount you specify. Sign up to receive account alerts.
    • Wells Fargo Online with the My Money Map service — Stay on track. Review purchases and payments made with your Wells Fargo credit card, debit card, and Bill Pay, and create a budget to manage monthly spending. Learn More about My Money Map.

Overdraft FAQs

What is an overdraft?

An overdraft is a negative balance in your account. An overdraft occurs when you spend more money than you have available in your checking account and the Bank pays your transaction anyway.

Is an overdraft different from a returned item?

Yes. A returned item / non-sufficient funds (NSF) item occurs when Wells Fargo returns an item (such as a check or other transaction presented for payment) unpaid because there is not enough money in the account to cover it (meaning, we do not pay the transaction).

What is the fee for overdrafts or returned items (non-sufficient funds/NSF) on Consumer accounts?

Our overdraft fee for items paid into overdraft is $35 per item. We charge no more than three overdraft fees per business day for Consumer accounts.

We do not charge a returned item / non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee for items we return unpaid on Consumer accounts. However, merchants or other banks may charge fees for returned items.

Note: We will not charge an overdraft fee on items that are $5 or less, and we won’t charge overdraft fees if both your ending daily account balance and available balance are overdrawn by $5 or less after we have processed all of your transactions. There are no overdraft fees for ATM and everyday (one-time) debit card transactions unless your account is enrolled in Debit Card Overdraft Service, as described above.

Can I make a deposit or transfer to avoid overdraft fees?

Yes. You can avoid applicable overdraft fees if you make a covering deposit or transfer before the posted cut-off time on the same business day.

What is the difference between Overdraft Protection and Debit Card Overdraft Service?

Both services are optional and you can sign up for one or both depending on your checking account and how you like to manage your money. You do not need to have Debit Card Overdraft Service in order to have Overdraft Protection.

  • Overdraft Protection uses available funds from your linked account(s) to authorize or pay a transaction if there isn’t enough money in your checking account. There is no fee for Overdraft Protection transfers or advances from accounts linked for Overdraft Protection on Consumer accounts. For advances from a linked credit account, interest accrues from the date of each advance. See your credit account agreement for details.
  • Debit Card Overdraft Service allows the Bank to authorize, at its discretion, ATM and everyday (one-time) debit card transactions into overdraft if there isn’t enough money in your checking account (or in accounts linked for Overdraft Protection) to cover the transaction. An overdraft fee of $35 per item will apply unless a transfer or a covering deposit is made before the posted cut-off time on the same business day.

If there is not enough money in your checking account (or accounts linked for Overdraft Protection), checks or recurring bill payments you have pre-authorized (such as a utility or phone bill) using your debit card or checking account (ACH payments) may be returned unpaid or approved into overdraft at the Bank’s discretion whether or not you are enrolled in Debit Card Overdraft Service, and our standard overdraft fees apply for items paid into overdraft.

How much does Wells Fargo’s Overdraft Protection cover?

The Bank will transfer the available money from your linked savings account or advance available credit from your linked credit account to your checking account to cover any negative balance. A minimum of $25 (or the exact amount of the negative balance if over $25) will be transferred or advanced from your savings account or credit card. If there isn’t enough money in the linked savings or credit card account(s) to cover the entire negative balance, only the available money in the linked account(s) will be transferred. Advances from eligible line of credit accounts are made in increments of $100 or $300. See your credit agreement for full details.

What will happen if I don’t have enough money in my account to cover an ATM or everyday (one-time) debit card transaction and I don’t have Debit Card Overdraft Service?

ATM and everyday (one-time) debit card transactions will be declined at the time of the transaction. There are no fees for declined transactions. If a checking account is not enrolled in Debit Card Overdraft Service and an ATM or everyday (one-time) debit card transaction creates a negative balance during posting, an overdraft fee will not be assessed.

Please be aware that checks or recurring bill payments you have pre-authorized (such as a utility or phone bill) using your debit card or checking account (ACH payments) may be returned unpaid or approved into overdraft (at the Bank’s discretion) whether or not you are enrolled in Debit Card Overdraft Service and an overdraft fee would be assessed for items paid into overdraft.

How do I decide which services are right for me?

Review the materials on this site, talk with a local branch banker or call a phone banker at 1-800-TO-WELLS (1-800-869-3557).

How do I add, change or remove Overdraft Protection?

You can add, change or remove Overdraft Protection through Online Banking, a branch banker, or talk to a phone banker at 1-800-TO-WELLS (1-800-869-3557).

How do I add or remove Debit Card Overdraft Service?

You can add or remove Debit Card Overdraft Service at a Wells Fargo ATM (Select More Choices, Wells Fargo Services), through Online Banking, with a branch banker, or talk to a phone banker anytime at 1-800-TO-WELLS (1-800-869-3557). Any account holder with transaction authority can add or remove the service on the checking account.

Does Wells Fargo guarantee my ATM and everyday (one-time) debit card transactions will be approved with Debit Card Overdraft Service?

No. The payment of any transaction into overdraft remains a discretionary decision of Wells Fargo and we reserve the right not to pay. For example, we typically do not pay these items if your account is overdrawn or if you have had excessive overdrafts.

What overdraft services apply to my Clear Access Banking account?

Our standard overdraft coverage does not apply to Clear Access Banking accounts, and you cannot request that it be added to your account. With Clear Access Banking, if you do not have available funds in your account at the time of a transaction, we will:

  • Return certain payments (such as ACH payments) unpaid.
  • Not authorize ATM and everyday (one-time) debit card transactions into overdraft.
  • Not authorize other transactions (such as recurring debit card transactions or Bill Pay transactions) into overdraft.

Optional overdraft services, such as Overdraft Protection and Debit Card Overdraft Service, are also not available on this account. References in your Deposit Account Agreement and Consumer Fee and Information Schedule to standard overdraft coverage, Overdraft Protection, and Debit Card Overdraft Service, including associated overdraft fees, are not applicable to Clear Access Banking accounts.

This balance may not reflect all of your transactions, such as checks you have written or debit card transactions that have been approved but not yet submitted for payment by the merchant.