a special service for your checking account
At times, unanticipated expenses or unforeseen problems can leave you with too little cash in your checking account. Having a check returned due to insufficient funds can be a costly, inconvenient, and potentially embarrassing experience. At Champlain National Bank, we do not encourage overdrafts. As always, we encourage you to manage your finances responsibly. However, we want to save you from the additional merchant fees and possible damage to your credit history that might result if a check is returned. That’s why we provide Overdraft Protection, a special overdraft service for Champlain National Bank’s clients.
what is overdraft protection?
Overdraft Protection is a discretionary overdraft service requiring no action on your part that provides you a safety net up to an automatically assigned overdraft limit. Your Overdraft Protection limit may be available for checks and other transactions made using your checking account, automatic Bill Pay, or recurring debit card payment. Business accounts may also receive Overdraft Protection for ATM and everyday debit card transactions using your limit. For all other personal accounts, at your request, we may authorize and pay ATM transfers or withdrawals and everyday debit card purchases using your limit.
how does overdraft protection work?*
As long as you maintain your account in "good standing", we may approve your overdraft items within your current available Overdraft Protection limit as a non-contractual courtesy. For Overdraft Protection consideration, your account is in "good standing" if you (1) deposit enough money to bring your account to a positive end-of-day balance at least once every 30 calendar days (including the payment of all bank fees and charges); (2) avoid excessive overdrafts suggesting the use of Overdraft Protection as a continuing line of credit; and (3) there are no legal orders, levies or liens against your account.
Please note that the amount of the overdraft plus our Overdraft Item Fee of $25 for each ATM or everyday debit card transaction or $35 each for any other type of transaction will be deducted from your overdraft limit. If the item is returned, the Return Item Fee of $35 will be deducted from your account. No interest will be charged on the overdraft balance.
*Please refer to the Overdraft Protection Client Disclosure for additional details.
current balance versus available balance
Your checking account has two kinds of balances: the “current” balance and the “available” balance.
Your current balance is the full amount of all previously posted deposits/credits to your account, less withdrawal/debit transactions that have been presented to us for payment and have “posted” to your account.
Your available balance is the current balance less debit card transactions that the Bank has authorized, other “memo-post” items that have been received at the Bank but have not yet posted to your account or certain payments or transfers you have scheduled/authorized, and other funds that are subject to legal holds or availability holds.
Your available balance (plus where applicable any overdraft limit applicable to your account) is used to determine whether we will authorize a transaction, while your current balance at the time a transaction is posted to your account is used to determine whether your account is overdrawn and potentially subject to an Overdraft Fee.
what if i go beyond my overdraft protection limit?
Overdrafts above and beyond your established Overdraft Protection limit may result in checks or other items being returned to the payee. The Return Item Fee of $35 will be charged per item and assessed to your account. An OD/NSF notice will be sent to notify you of items paid and/or returned.
what does overdraft protection cost?
There is no additional cost associated with this privilege unless you use it. You will be charged our Overdraft Item Fee of $35 for each overdrawn item created by a traditional paper-based check, a teller withdrawal, an automatic payment (ACH) transaction or a recurring debit card transaction; and our Overdraft Item Fee of $25 for each ATM or everyday debit card transaction.
For personal accounts, you must request and authorize that we cover ATM transfers or withdrawals and everyday debit card purchases. Your balance may be affected by authorization which could create additional overdrafts and associated fees. For example, three paid items in one day will result in up to $105 in Overdraft Item Fees. To help you manage your account, the total fees you have paid for items (both paid and returned) during the current month and for the year-to-date will be reflected on your monthly checking statement.
what is my overdraft protection limit?
Locate your account type below and make note of the corresponding limit. If you have multiple accounts for your household, you may have a limit on all eligible accounts.
| Account | Limit |
|---|---|
| Champlain Free | $400 |
| Champlain Classic | $750 |
| Champlain Benefit | $1,000 |
| Champlain Privilege | $1,000 |
| Champlain Money Market | $1,000 |
| Champlain Privilege Money Market | $1,000 |
| Free Business Checking | $750 |
| Business Checking | $1,000 |
| Interest Business Checking | $1,000 |
| Business Money Market | $1,000 |
how quickly must i repay my overdraft protection?
You should make every attempt to bring your account to a positive end-of-day balance as soon as possible, and must do so within 30 calendar days. If you don’t, you’ll receive a letter from Champlain National Bank informing you that your Overdraft Protection limit has been suspended and additional items will be returned. If your limit is suspended, unless we notify you otherwise or you request this service be removed from your account, your limit will be made available to cover overdrafts again the first business day after you bring your account to a positive end-of-day balance.
how can i access my overdraft protection?
The chart below shows the different ways you can access your Overdraft Protection limit and indicates whether or not this limit will be reflected in the balance provided.
**For personal accounts, Overdraft Protection will be made available for ATM or everyday debit card transactions upon your request. Call or visit the closest branch location to arrange for your ATM and debit card coverage.
overdraft protection repayment issues and overuse
Please call or visit the closest branch location if you:
(1) do not believe you will be able to bring your account to a positive end-of-day balance within the required time period;
(2) find that you are using Overdraft Protection more often than you intend; or
(3) don’t understand why your account becomes overdrawn.
We would like to discuss your situation with you. Following regulatory guidance, we will contact you if you are paying multiple Overdraft Fees to discuss possible alternatives to Overdraft Protection that may better meet your short term credit needs.
In the event you ask us to stop contacting you because you have determined Overdraft Protection is appropriate for your needs, we will honor your wishes. However, if we identify that the number and frequency of overdrafts increases materially for an extended period of time at some point after that, we may contact you again to ensure Overdraft Protection is still the most appropriate option available to you for covering your short term credit needs.
how do i know when i use the overdraft limit?
You will receive an overdraft notice each time items are paid, including fees. You will need to subtract the total fees when balancing your checkbook.
how soon can i use my overdraft protection?
If you are a new client, you may use the Overdraft Protection service immediately after your account is opened. You must maintain satisfactory activity in the account, including regular deposits, consistent with our internal standards for new account types that may offer Overdraft Protection. The service will continue to be available provided you maintain the account in "good standing" as defined in this brochure.
what are some other ways i can cover overdrafts?
The best way to avoid overdrafts and fees is to keep track of your account balance by entering all checks, debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals in your check register, reconcile your checkbook regularly and manage your finances responsibly. However, if a mistake occurs, Champlain National Bank offers additional ways to cover overdrafts in addition to Overdraft Protection.
1 This information is effective as of 02/07/2024 and is provided as examples.
2 APR - Annual Percentage Rate - Subject to change. Please ask us about our current specific products, rates and fees.
what if i don't want overdraft protection on my account?
If you would like to have this service removed from your account, please call or visit the closest branch location.
questions?
If you have any questions you can contact us by:
Visiting or calling your local branch
Emailing us at: info@champlainbank.com
Writing us at:
Champlain National Bank
3900 NYS Route 22
Willsboro, NY 12996