Overdraft Coverage Options

Overdraft Coverage Options

Standard Overdraft Privilege Coverage is just one of two options. Consider all options available for covering overdrafts:

¹Call us at (912) 564-7436, email us, or come by an office to sign up or apply for these services.

Overdraft Protection

Services apply to all transactions and may help prevent overdrafts by automatically transferring funds to your checking account from another account you may have at Farmers & Merchants Bank.

Overdraft Privilege

Allows you to overdraw your account up to the disclosed limit for a fee in order to pay a transaction. Even if you have other overdraft protection, Overdraft Privilege is available when the other protection source is exhausted.

*If you choose Extended Coverage, ATM withdrawals and everyday debit card transactions will be included with the transactions listed under Standard Coverage. If you already have Extended Overdraft Privilege coverage, it is not necessary to request it again. Business accounts automatically have Extended Coverage.

If you would like to select Extended Coverage for future transactions:

• call us at (912) 564-7436
• complete the online consent form found here.
• e-mail us

You can discontinue the Overdraft Privilege in its entirety by contacting us at (912) 564-7436 or sending us an e-mail. 

What Else You Should Know

• A link to another account may be a less expensive option than an overdraft. A single larger overdraft will result in just one fee, as opposed to multiple smaller overdrafts. Good account management is the best way to avoid overdrafts. Use our mobile banking, and Internet banking services to keep track of your balance. For additional financial education resources, please visit www.mymoney.gov.
• The $30 Overdraft Fee that is charged if you overdraw your account more than $10.00 is the same fee amount that is charged if a check is returned as unpaid. We do not charge an overdraft fee if your consumer or business account is overdrawn by $10.00 or less. If multiple items overdraw your account on the same day, each item will be assessed an appropriate Overdraft Fee or a Return Item Fee of $30. All fees and charges will be included as part of the Overdraft Privilege limit amount. Your account may become overdrawn more than the Overdraft Privilege limit amount because of a fee.
• For consumer accounts, there is a limit of 6 Overdraft Fees ($180) per day we will charge. We will not charge an Overdraft Fee if a consumer or business account is overdrawn by $10 or less.
• Recipients of federal or state benefits payments who do not wish us to deduct the amount overdrawn and the Overdraft Fee from funds that you deposit or that are deposited into your account may call us at 912-564-7436 to discontinue Overdraft Privilege.
• If an item is returned because the Available Balance (as defined below) in your account is not sufficient to cover the item and the item is presented for payment again, Farmers and Merchants Bank ("We") will charge a Return Item Fee each time we return the item because it exceeds the Available Balance in your account.  Because we may charge a Return Item Fee each time an item is presented, we may charge you more than one fee for any given item as a result of a returned item and re-presentment of the item.  When we charge a Return Item Fee, the charge reduces the Available Balance in your account and may put your account into (or further into) overdraft.  If, on representment of the item, the Available Balance in your account is sufficient to cover the item we may pay the item, and, if payment causes an overdraft, charge an Overdraft Fee.  We may use the terms "item" and "transaction" interchangeably.
• This describes the posting order for purposes of determining overdrafts. Our general policy is to post items throughout the day and to post ACH credits before debits. Paper checks and ACH debits post by transaction amount from lowest to highest. ATM, and debit card transactions are posted in the order in which they are received; however, because of the many ways we allow you to access your account, the posting order of individual items may differ from these general policies. Holds on funds (described herein) and the order in which transactions are posted may impact the total amount of Overdraft Fees or Returned Item Fees assessed.
• Overdraft Privilege is not a line of credit; it is a discretionary overdraft service that can be withdrawn at any time without prior notice.
• Depositor and each Authorized Signatory will continue to be liable, jointly and severally, for all overdraft and fee amounts, as described in the Deposit Account Agreement and Disclosure.  The total (negative) balance, including all fees and charges, is due and payable on demand.
• We may be obligated to pay some debit card transactions that are not authorized through the payment system but which we are required to pay due to payment system rules, and as a result you may incur fees if such transactions overdraw your account.  However, we will not authorize debit card or ATM transactions unless your account's Available Balance (including Overdraft Coverage Options) is sufficient to cover the transactions and any fee(s).  
• Giving us your consent to pay everyday debit card and ATM overdrafts on your consumer account (Extended Coverage) may result in you incurring Overdraft Fees for transactions that we would otherwise be required to pay without assessing an Overdraft Fee. However, this would allow us to authorize transactions up to the amount of your Overdraft Privilege limit.  If you consent to Extended Coverage on your consumer account, it will remain on your account until it is otherwise withdrawn.

Understanding your Available Balance: Your account has two types of balances: the Ledger Balance and the Available Balance.

• We authorize and pay transactions using the Available Balance.
• Your Ledger Balance reflects the full amount of all deposits to your account as well as payment transactions that have been psted to your account.  It does not reflect checks you have written and are still outstanding or transactions that have been authorized but are still pending.  
• The Available Balance is the amount available to you for purchases, withdrawals, or to cover transactions.  The Available Balance is your Ledger Balance, less any holds due to pending debit card transactions and holds on deposited funds.
• The balance used for authorizing checks, ACH items, and recurring debit card transactions is your Available Balance plus the amount of Overdraft Privilege limit and any available Overdraft Protection.
• The balance used for authorizing ATM and everyday debit card transactions on accounts with Standard Coverage is your Available Balance plus any available Overdraft Protection but does NOT include the Overdraft Privilege limit.
• The balance used for authorizing ATM and everyday debit card transactions on accounts with Extended Coverage is your Available Balance plus any available Overdraft Protection and includes the Overdraft Privilege limit.
• Because your Available Balance reflects pending transactions and debit holds, your balance may appear to cover a transaction but later upon settlement it may not be sufficient to cover such transaction. In such cases, the transaction may further overdraw your account and be subject to additional overdraft fees. You should assume that any item which would overdraw your account based on your Available Balance may create an overdraft. Note that we may place a hold on deposited funds in accordance with our Deposit Account Agreement and Disclosure, which will reduce the amount in your Available Balance.
• Please be aware that the Overdraft Privilege amount is not included in your Available Balance provided through online banking, mobile banking or Farmers and Merchants Bank’s ATMs.
• We will place a hold on your account for any authorized debit card transaction until the transaction settles (usually within two business days) or as permitted by payment system rules. In some cases, the hold may exceed the amount of the transaction. When the hold ends, the funds will be added to the Available Balance in your account. If your account is overdrawn after the held funds are added to the Available Balance and the transaction is posted to the Available Balance, an Overdraft Fee may be assessed.
• Except as described herein, we will not pay items if the Available Balance in your account (including the Overdraft Privilege limit, if applicable) is not sufficient to cover the item(s) and the amount of any fee(s).
• We may suspend your debit card if you incur overdrafts in excess of the Available Balance in your account, including any Overdraft Privilege limit (as described herein). Debit cards on your account will remain suspended until you make sufficient deposits so that your Available Balance, taking into account any Overdraft Privilege limit, is positive.
• We may also suspend your debit card if your account is overdrawn more than 32 consecutive calendar days. Debit cards on your account will remain suspended until you make sufficient deposits so that your account balance is positive.
• We may also suspend your debit card if we are unable to contact you due to an incorrect mailing address or Phone Number(s). You must contact us with your correct mailing address and/or Phone Number(s) to have your debit card reinstated.
• If your debit card is suspended, you will be unable to use your debit card(s) for purchases or to access your account(s) associated with the debit card(s) at the ATM while your debit card is suspended. If you use your debit card for recurring payments, e.g., utilities, you are responsible to make other arrangements for your recurring debit payment(s).

Understanding Overdraft Privilege Limits

• New consumer and business checking accounts will receive a $100 Introductory Overdraft Privilege limit at account opening that will be increased to $500 after 45 days in good standing for eligible consumer accounts or to $1,000 after 45 days in good standing for eligible Business Checking accounts.

   

• Overdraft Privilege may be reduced if you default on any loan or other obligation to us, your account becomes subject to any legal or administrative order or levy, or if you fail to maintain your account in good standing by not bringing your account to a positive balance within 32 days for a minimum of one business day. You must bring your account balance positive for at least one business day to have the full Overdraft Privilege limit reinstated.

   

   

If you have any questions about Overdraft Protection or Overdraft Privilege, please call us at 912-564-7436 or visit a branch.