Editor’s Note: Overdraft Apps provides detailed product reviews and recommendations based upon extensive research and our own hands-on testing. We may earn a referral fee when you sign up for or purchase products mentioned in this article.
Mitchel holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance from The Goizeta School of Business at Emory University and a Masters of Business Administration from The Haas School of Business at The University of California.
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Updated August 2026.
How much does a Bank of America overdraft cost? On Advantage Plus Banking, Bank of America charges a $10 Overdraft Item Fee, and no more than two fees a day, so $20 is the daily ceiling. There is no fee if you are overdrawn by $1 or less, or if the item itself is $1 or less. Bank of America does not charge a returned-item (NSF) fee. ATM withdrawals and everyday debit card purchases cannot overdraw the account. They are declined instead.
| Bank of America overdraft, at a glance | What it means |
|---|---|
| Overdraft fee | $10 per item on Advantage Plus |
| Daily limit | 2 fees ($20 total) |
| Small item / small balance cushion | No fee if overdrawn by $1 or less, or if the item is $1 or less |
| Returned-item (NSF) fee | $0. Declined or returned items have no bank fee |
| ATM and everyday debit | Declined. They cannot overdraw the account |
| Balance Connect transfers | $0 transfer fee. A linked credit card or line of credit still charges its own interest |
| SafeBalance alternative | $0 overdraft fees. Transactions decline or return instead |
| Monthly fee (Advantage Plus) | $12, or $0 with a waiver listed below |
Advantage Plus costs $12 a month. You can drop that to $0 with one qualifying direct deposit of $250 or more, a $1,500 minimum daily balance, or by being an account owner in BofA Rewards at Preferred Plus or higher.
Fees verified August 13, 2026 from Bank of America’s Advantage Plus Banking Clarity Statement (current as of August 2026) and its overdrafts and overdraft protection FAQ.
How the $10 fee works
Bank of America charges $10 when it pays a check, recurring debit, or other electronic payment that overdraws Advantage Plus, and at most twice in one day.
Paying is always the bank’s choice. If it returns the item unpaid, Bank of America charges nothing. The payment still does not go through, so a landlord or utility can add its own late or returned-payment fee.
Two settings control checks and scheduled payments. Standard is the default and can pay those items into overdraft for $10. Decline All returns them unpaid with no Bank of America fee.
Which transactions Bank of America will and will not cover
The two worth knowing first are the ones it refuses. ATM withdrawals and everyday debit card purchases are declined when you do not have the money. A decline costs nothing at the bank, and it also does not happen.
| Transaction type | Can Bank of America pay it into overdraft? |
|---|---|
| ATM withdrawal | No. The ATM gives you no cash, and there is no bank fee |
| Everyday debit card purchase | No. The card is declined, and there is no bank fee |
| Recurring debit card payment | Yes, the bank may pay it and charge $10, or return it with no bank fee |
| Check, Bill Pay, or scheduled ACH | Yes, under Standard. Decline All returns it unpaid with no bank fee |
| Teller cash withdrawal | Not stated as its own rule in the current overdraft FAQ |
A declined transaction costs you nothing at Bank of America, and the purchase or cash request does not go through.
How to avoid a Bank of America overdraft fee
- Use the $1 cushions. Items of $1 or less, and days you end overdrawn by $1 or less, do not get the $10 fee.
- Turn on Balance Connect. Linking a savings account can cover a shortfall with no transfer fee.
- Switch to Decline All if you would rather have a check returned than pay $10 for it to clear.
- Set low-balance alerts in the Bank of America app, including Balance Watch from Erica.
- Consider SafeBalance if you want overdraft fees off the table. You give up check-writing.
Short before payday? If the alternative is stacking bank fees, a small advance can be cheaper when you qualify and repay on time.
See how to borrow $50 instantly, or compare every option side by side below.
How Bank of America compares to the average US bank
Bankrate surveys 245 banks and thrifts across 25 US markets each year. The average US overdraft fee is $26.77. Bank of America’s $10 sits $16.77 below that, about 63% lower, and it also blocks ATM and everyday debit overdrafts that many banks still let you opt into.
| Measure | Bank of America (Advantage Plus) | Average US bank |
|---|---|---|
| Overdraft fee | $10 per item | $26.77 |
| Returned-item (NSF) fee | $0 | $16.82, charged by 61% of banks |
| Cushion or grace period | Yes. $1 item and $1 end-of-day cushions. No extra-day grace | 66% of accounts give some leeway |
| Daily cap | 2 fees ($20) | Not a single national figure; many large banks cap at 3 |
National averages from Bankrate’s 2025 Checking Account and ATM Fee Study, published September 2025, covering 245 institutions in 25 US markets.
Banking somewhere else too? See what overdraft fees by bank look like across the biggest US banks.
Compare cash advance apps that can cover a shortfall. If you keep landing in overdraft, an app that fronts you a small amount until payday may cost less than repeat $10 bank fees.
Top cash advance apps right now:
| App | Score | Max | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Tilt |
9.5 | Up to $400 | Get Tilt |
 MoneyLion |
9.1 | Up to $500 | Get MoneyLion |
 Brigit |
9.1 | Up to $500 | Get Brigit |
 Chime |
9.0 | Up to $500 | Get Chime |
 Grant |
8.9 | Up to $500 | Get Grant |
Need more than a few hundred dollars?
- Bigger loans, not tiny advances. Cash advance apps top out fast — PockBox helps you search personal loan offers that often start above $500.
- Any credit score welcome. Compare options from lenders that work with excellent, fair, and poor credit (approval and terms always depend on the lender).
- Free to shop around. Checking rates does not lock you into a loan — compare side by side, then decide.
Bank of America overdraft FAQ
How much is the Bank of America overdraft fee?
$10 per item on Advantage Plus, with a limit of two fees per day, so $20 at most. There is no fee if you are overdrawn by $1 or less, or if the item is $1 or less. SafeBalance has no overdraft fee.
Does Bank of America still charge an NSF fee?
No. If Bank of America declines or returns an item unpaid, it charges no NSF fee. The payee may still charge its own fee, and the payment does not go through.
Can a debit card purchase overdraw a Bank of America account?
Everyday debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals are declined when you do not have the money. Recurring debit payments, checks, and scheduled electronic payments can still overdraw Advantage Plus under the Standard setting.
Is there a Bank of America account with no overdraft fees?
Yes. Advantage SafeBalance Banking has no overdraft fees. Transactions that would overdraw it are declined or returned. It does not include check-writing.
Does Bank of America charge extra fees the longer an account stays negative?
The current Advantage Plus Clarity Statement does not list an extended or continuous overdraft fee. You still have to bring the account positive right away.
Is there a fee for Bank of America overdraft protection transfers?
No. Balance Connect transfers have no transfer fee. A linked credit card or line of credit can still charge interest on the advance.
Mitchel holds a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance from The Goizeta School of Business at Emory University and a Masters of Business Administration from The Haas School of Business at The University of California.
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