By Casey Bond, Content Director
Would you pay an interest rate of 17,000% to borrow $24? That might seem absurd, but you probably already have -- and maybe more than once.
The average debit transaction that incurs an overdraft fee is $24, according to a recent study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The majority of these overdrafts are repaid in three days; in lending terms, the interest rate charged would be in the tens of thousands, according to the report.
Even worse, the CFPB found that just 8 percent of customers are responsible for a whopping 75 percent of all overdraft fees.
"Sure there are a few people who make an occasional mistake and get an overdraft once every blue moon, but most overdrafts are from the same people over and over again," said Andy Prescott, a CPA with more than 14 years of experience working in the banking industry and founder of Art of Being Cheap. "I worked in a bank's customer service department for four years and talked with these folks on a daily basis. The problem is they just didn't understand the [significance] of paying overdraft fees."
Poll Finds One-Third of Americans Treat Their Checking Accounts Like Payday Loans
- I never overdraft (70.45%)
- I don't know my account balance (14.85%)
- I absolutely need to make a purchase (6.84%)
- My bank's overdraft policy confuses me (4.67%)
- The fee is less than my purchase (3.19%)
Why Do Americans Keep Paying Overdraft Fees?
In fact, those age 18 to 24 were most likely to not know their account balances, least likely to respond with "I never overdraft" and most likely to be confused by their bank's overdraft policies.
Of the approximately 30 percent of poll respondents who admitted to overdrafting, about half stated it was because they weren't aware of their account balances. The next most-common response, at about 23 percent, indicated it was because they simply had to make the purchase regardless of whether or not funds were available.
Approximately 16 percent of overdrafters claimed it was due to confusing policies at their banks, while only about 11 percent of those who paid overdraft fees did so when the fee was less than the purchase amount.
The results of the poll indicate younger customers with less experience dealing with bank accounts are more likely to overdraft or be unaware of their checking account balance. Older folks, on the other hand, are by far the most responsible when it comes to managing their checking accounts and avoiding fees.
Additionally, lower-income banking customers of all ages are at risk of incurring overdraft fees, especially those who live paycheck to paycheck. "Overdraft fees unfortunately are becoming a tax on the poor," said R. Joseph Ritter, Jr., a CFP with Zacchaeus Financial Counseling, Inc. "They are the most vulnerable to the fee but the least unable to pay." He added that careful planning is the best way to avoid overdraft fees.
Tips to Avoid Overdraft Fees
Start Tracking Your Finances
Tracking your finances can help clue you in to the grim realities of your spending habits. A simple spreadsheet will do the trick, but you can also sign up for free software like Mint to get a more detailed picture of trends in your personal budget.
Be Proactive
"For the person on the go, this will provide the convenience necessary to view recent account activity and make transfers" Buckley said.
Get Clear About Regulation
"If you opt-in, you perpetuate consumer habits from which banks benefit. If you opt-out and have an oversight in your bookkeeping or ledger, you run the risk of bouncing an important payment like mortgage, rent or insurance. Choose wisely," Buckley said.
Slipping up and incurring an overdraft fee might not seem like a big deal, but those who do so habitually are throwing away money that could be put toward savings, paying down debt or splurging on a dream purchase. Don't let banks profit off your inattention -- taking a more active role in your daily finances will keep more money in your pocket rather than theirs.
Edward Stepanyants contributed to this report.
Photo Credit: HelenCobain
