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An overdraft fee occurs if your bank approves a transaction that overdraws your account's balance. The bank covers the overdrawn amount; you must pay back the loaned amount plus an overdraft fee.
A non-sufficient funds (NSF) fee occurs if your bank denies a transaction that would overdraw your account. You would then have to pay an NSF fee.
If your bank charges you an overdraft or NSF fee, you could ask the bank to waive it. Some financial institutions might be willing to waive these fees, especially if it's your first time getting them.
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Up to $300New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found athttp://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
Minimum Opening Balance
$0
Monthly Fee
$0
Why We Like It
Earn a $50 or $300 bonus and up to 4.30% APY1 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at<a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet" >http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> on your money with eligible direct deposit
Limited-Time Offer: +0.70% Boost on Savings APY for 6 months on new accounts with eligible Direct Deposit. Terms Apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.30% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.60% APY as of 11/12/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p>
No account, overdraft, or monthly fees3 <p>We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a></p>
Get your paycheck up to two days early with direct deposit4 <p>Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.</p>
Access additional FDIC insurance up to $3 million5 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>
The difference between overdraft and NSF fees is that overdraft fees occur when a bank approves a transaction that overdraws your account. NSF fees occur when a bank denies a transaction that would overdraw your account.
If you incur an overdraft or NSF fee from your bank, you could contact customer service and request a waiver or refund. However, keep in mind that this isn't guaranteed and depends on the bank's policies.
Overdraft fees and NSF fees vary by financial institution but can range from $10 to $36 per charge.
Overdraft fees are generally more common than NSF fees because many banks and credit unions have eliminated NSF fees from their fee schedules.
Compare overdraft fees vs. NSF fees
Potential cost
Transaction authorization
Description
Overdraft fee
$10 to $36
Approved
The bank allows a transaction that would overdraft your account, covers the overdraft amount, and charges you a fee. You have to pay back the fee and the money loaned from the bank.
NSF fee
$10 to $36
Denied
The bank denies a transaction that would overdraft your account and then charges you a fee. You have to pay back the fee and might have to deal with a bounced check or another form of denied payment.
What is an overdraft fee?
A bank charges an overdraft fee if you don't have enough money in your account to cover a transaction, but the bank pays for it anyway. After an overdraft fee is charged, you would be on the hook to pay back the fee and the amount the bank loaned you to cover the transaction.
For example, you could have $50 in your bank account and make a $75 debit card purchase to pay a utility bill. The bank could cover the $25 overdraft and then charge you a $35 overdraft fee. You would be expected to repay the $25 loaned amount plus the $35 charge.
Overdraft fees vary by bank, but they could cost around $35 per transaction. Here are some overdraft fee amounts from popular banks:
Bank of America: $10
Capital One: Doesn't charge overdraft fees
Chase: $34
Citi: Doesn't charge overdraft fees
U.S. Bank: $36
Wells Fargo: $35
What is an NSF fee?
The bank charges you an NSF (non-sufficient fund) fee if it denies a transaction that would overdraw your account. This differs from an overdraft fee, which is charged when a bank approves and pays for a transaction that would overdraw your account.
Using the same example above, you could have $50 in your bank account and make a $75 debit card transaction to cover a utility bill. The bank denies the transaction because it would overdraw your account and then charges you an NSF fee.
How much is an NSF fee?
NSF fees have largely been eliminated from major banks. According to 2023 data from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), almost two-thirds of banks with over $10 billion in assets have eliminated NSF fees. However, most credit unions of a similar size continue to charge NSF fees.
Here are some NSF fee amounts from different financial institutions:
Bank of Hawaii: $30
BECU: $10
First Community Bank: $36
Navy Federal Credit Union: $29
PenFed Credit Union: $30
State Employees' Credit Union: $12 (after NSF Fee Free Days are exhausted)
How to waive overdraft and NSF fees
If your bank charges you an overdraft or an NSF fee, you could try to get it waived. While there's no guarantee that your bank will approve your request, there's no harm in trying.
Waiving overdraft fees
Some financial institutions might be willing to waive overdraft fees, especially if this is the first time you've received them.
Here are some steps you can take to waive overdraft fees:
Contact your bank: Reach out to your bank's customer service via phone, email, or in-person. Explain your situation and ask if they can waive the fee.
First-time forgiveness: If this is your first time incurring an overdraft fee, mention this to your bank. Many banks are willing to waive the fee for first-time occurrences.
Enroll in overdraft protection: Some banks offer overdraft protection programs that link your bank account to another account to cover any overdrafts.
Waiving NSF Fees
Like overdraft fees, you can request your bank waive NSF fees.
Here are some steps you can take to waive NSF fees:
Contact your bank: As with overdraft fees, the first step is to contact your bank. Explain why what happened and ask if they can waive the NSF fee.
First-time forgiveness: If this is your first time incurring an NSF fee, mention this to your bank. They may be willing to waive the fee as a one-time courtesy.
Maintain a balance in your account: Keeping a balance in your account can help prevent NSF fees.
How to avoid overdraft and NSF fees
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed a rule that could overhaul overdraft fees in the future. While we wait to see how that pans out, consider these tips to learn how to avoid overdraft fees and NSF fees.
1. Monitor your account regularly
One of the best ways to stay on top of your personal finances is to always know what's going on with your money. If you frequently check your account balances and know your spending and income amounts, you'll unlikely overdraw an account.
You can monitor your finances in multiple ways, including using budgeting apps or simply logging in to the online account associated with your bank.
2. Set up alerts for low balances
Many financial institutions provide notification and alert options for different things. For example, you can receive an email or text message if your account balance gets low. In some cases, you can choose how low you want the balance to be before you receive a notification.
These types of alerts can help you monitor your account activity. If you receive an alert, you can hold off on certain transactions until you deposit more money into your account.
3. Opt for overdraft protection plans
Some banks offer optional overdraft protection programs that you can enroll in. The terms can vary by bank, but many programs cover transactions that would overdraw your account and charge you an overdraft fee. You then have to pay back the fee and the loaned amount.
If you don't enroll in some of these programs, the bank will simply reject transactions that could overdraw your account, and you won't be charged an overdraft fee. Depending on the program, this could be the safer option. But you might still be charged an NSF fee.
Certain protection plans could also link multiple bank accounts together to lower the chances of one account being overdrawn. For example, you can link a savings account to a checking account. If your checking account were to be overdrawn, the necessary funds could be transferred over from your savings account (if there are funds available).
This plan could prevent your accounts from being overdrawn, which would help you avoid overdraft and NSF fees.
4. Understand your bank's fee structure and policies
Not all banks charge overdraft fees. Similarly, not all banks charge NSF fees. Some banks don't charge overdraft or NSF fees. Some banks charge both.
Also, some banks have overdraft protection plans, while others don't. And the terms between different plans can vary.
Considering each financial institution's differences, it makes sense to research a bank or credit union and its fees before deciding to bank with them. Even if a bank charges overdraft fees, it might only have the option to charge them if you enroll in its overdraft protection program.
It can get confusing, but most banks have fee schedules you can find online that list all their different fees. You can also look up specific bank accounts to find their fees.
If you still incur an overdraft fee after researching and being as careful as possible, it's not the end of the world. In some cases, fees can be waived.
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Use Cash App As Your All-in-One Financial Services Platform
Bank6 <p>Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Savings provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand.</p><p class="">Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Direct Deposit provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand.</p> without all the fees—save, send, and spend your money the way you want.7 <p class="">Your balance is eligible for FDIC pass-through insurance through our Program Banks Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and/or Sutton Bank, Members FDIC for up to $250,000 per customer when aggregated with all other deposits held in the same legal capacity at each Program Bank above, if certain conditions are met. Cash App is a financial services platform, and not an FDIC-insured bank. Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See <a href="https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement">terms and conditions</a>. </p> Get paid up to 2 days early – up to 2 days earlier than most banks8 <p>Your first deposit may take longer depending on your employer.</p>
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
Enjoy $300 as a new Chase checking customer
When you open a new Chase Total Checking® account with qualifying activities.9 <p>Offer not available to existing Chase checking customers, or those whose accounts have been closed within 90 days or closed with a negative balance within the last 3 years. You can receive only one new checking account opening related bonus every two years from the last coupon enrollment date and only one bonus per account. Coupon is good for one-time use. To receive the bonus: 1) Open a new Chase Total Checking account, which is subject to approval; AND 2) Have your direct deposits totaling $500 or more made to this account within 90 days of coupon enrollment. Your direct deposit needs to be an electronic deposit of your paycheck, pension or government benefits (such as Social Security) from your employer or the government. Person to Person payments (such as Zelle®) are not considered a direct deposit. Micro-deposits do not qualify as a direct deposit for the bonus. Micro-deposits are small deposits, typically less than $1, that are sent to your account to verify it is the correct account. After you have completed all the above requirements, we'll deposit the bonus in your new account within 15 days. To receive this bonus, the enrolled account must not be closed or restricted at the time of payout. Eligibility may be limited based on account ownership. Bonus is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT (or Form 1042-S, if applicable). Offer availability subject to change. Other Chase checking bonus offers may exist concurrently.</p> FDIC Insured. Offer valid through 1/21/2026.
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
2025 award winnerBest Checking and Savings Combo
SoFi Checking & Savings - Earn Up to $300 When You Set Up Direct Deposit
Limited-Time Offer: Earn a $50 or $300 bonus and up to 4.30% APY on Savings (3.60% APY1 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at<a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet" >http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> with +0.70% APY Boost) for 6 Months on new accounts with eligible direct deposit. Terms Apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.30% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.60% APY as of 11/12/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p> FDIC Insured.5 <p><b style="font-family: Rubik, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, sans-serif;">SoFi Bank is a member FDIC and does not provide more than $250,000 of FDIC insurance per depositor per legal category of account ownership, as described in the FDIC’s regulations. Any additional FDIC insurance is provided by the SoFi Insured Deposit Program. Deposits may be insured up to $3M through participation in the program. See full terms at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/sidpterms</a>. See list of participating banks at <a href="http://sofi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks">SoFi.com/banking/fdic/participatingbanks</a>.</b></p>
Without enough funds and overdraft protection, your check may bounce. This could result in a fee for a returned check or insufficient funds. However, if you have overdraft protection, your bank might cover the check based on its balance, which would incur an overdraft fee. You would then be responsible for repaying both the fee and the amount advanced by the bank.
What is an example of an NSF fee?
Your bank may charge an NSF fee if you don't have enough money in your account to cover a payment and your bank denies the transaction. For example, you write a check for $1,000 to cover your rent, but you only have $800 in your account when your landlord tries to cash the check. Keep in mind that many banks removed NSF fees from their fee schedule, so make sure to review your bank policies and fees.
Why am I being charged an NSF fee?
NSF fees are commonly charged if your bank account doesn't have enough funds to cover a transaction and your bank denies the transaction. The denied transaction could cause a check to bounce or an electronic payment, such as to a utility company, to be rejected. If this is your first time getting charged an NSF fee, you could try calling your bank and negotiating waiving the fee.
Overdraft fees vs. NSF fees: bottom line
The primary difference between overdraft and NSF fees is that overdraft fees occur when your bank approves a transaction that overdraws your account by covering the overdrawn amount, while NSF fees occur when your bank denies a transaction that would otherwise overdraw your account.
You can avoid both fees by carefully monitoring your account and making sure you don't initiate any transactions that could overdraw your account balance. You can also set up low-balance alerts and learn how your bank's fees work.
It's also possible to find banks that don't charge NSF or overdraft fees. To learn more, check out our list of the best banks.
FinanceBuzz writers and editors score products and companies on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment.
Our partners do not influence our ratings.
2025 award winnerBest Checking and Savings Combo
High APY of up to 4.30% on Savings (3.60% APY1 <p>New and existing Checking and Savings members who have not previously enrolled in Direct Deposit with SoFi are eligible to earn a cash bonus of either $50 (with at least $1,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period) OR $300 (with at least $5,000 total Eligible Direct Deposits received during the Direct Deposit Bonus Period). Cash bonus will be based on the total amount of Eligible Direct Deposit. If you have satisfied the Eligible Direct Deposit requirements but have not received a cash bonus in your Checking account, please contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. Direct Deposit Promotion begins on 12/7/2023 and will be available through 1/31/2026. Full terms at sofi.com/banking. SoFi Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.</p><p>SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit can earn 3.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the 3.60% APY for savings (including Vaults). Members without Eligible Direct Deposit will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 11/12/25. There is no minimum balance requirement. Fees may reduce earnings. Additional information can be found at<a href="http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet" >http://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet</a>.</p> with +0.70% APY Boost) for 6 Months on new accounts with eligible direct deposit. Terms Apply.2 <p>Earn up to 4.30% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on SoFi Savings with a 0.70% APY Boost (added to the 3.60% APY as of 11/12/25) for up to 6 months. Open a new SoFi Checking and Savings account and pay the $10 SoFi Plus subscription every 30 days OR receive eligible direct deposits OR qualifying deposits of $5,000 every 31 days by 1/31/26. Rates variable, subject to change. Terms apply at <a href="https://www.sofi.com/banking/#2">sofi.com/banking#2</a>. SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC.</p>
Paycheck access up to 2 days early with direct deposit4 <p>Early access to direct deposit funds is based on the timing in which we receive notice of impending payment from the Federal Reserve, which is typically up to two days before the scheduled payment date, but may vary.</p>
No monthly maintenance or overdraft fees3 <p>We do not charge any account, service or maintenance fees for SoFi Checking and Savings. We do charge a transaction fee to process each outgoing wire transfer. SoFi does not charge a fee for incoming wire transfers, however the sending bank may charge a fee. Our fee policy is subject to change at any time. See the SoFi Checking & Savings Fee Sheet for details at <a href="http://sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/">sofi.com/legal/banking-fees/</a></p>
Streamlined savings and savings goals with Vaults
Access to a large ATM network10 <p>We’ve partnered with Allpoint to provide you with ATM access at any of the 55,000+ ATMs within the Allpoint network. You will not be charged a fee when using an in-network ATM, however, third-party fees may be incurred when using out-of-network ATMs. SoFi’s ATM policies are subject to change at our discretion at any time.</p>
Ben Walker, CEPF, CFEI®, is credit cards specialist. For over a decade, he's leveraged credit card points and miles to travel the world. His expertise extends to other areas of personal finance — including loans, insurance, investing, and real estate — and you can find his insights on The Washington Post, Debt.com, Yahoo! Finance, and Fox Business.
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