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Updated August 2026.
Does SECU of North Carolina charge an overdraft fee? SECU, the State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina, does not charge an overdraft fee at all. If a transaction would overdraw your account and your linked accounts cannot cover it, SECU charges a $12 NSF fee, but only after your first NSF Fee Free Day of the year is used up.
| SECU (NC) overdraft, at a glance | What it means |
|---|---|
| Overdraft fee | $0. SECU does not charge one |
| NSF fee (after NSF Fee Free Day) | $12 per item |
| NSF Fee Free Day | The first day of each calendar year an NSF fee would otherwise apply is free |
| Overdraft Transfer Service | Free, from up to two designated protecting accounts |
| Re-presentment | Additional NSF fees excluded for identified re-presentments of the same item |
| Account | Figures describe SECU’s standard Checking Account |
Fees verified August 29, 2026 from SECU’s SECU Fees and Terms disclosure (effective August 3, 2026) and SECU’s Overdraft Transfer Service page.
Does SECU charge an overdraft fee?
No. SECU’s own overdraft transfer page states plainly that the credit union does not charge an overdraft fee. If your Checking Account cannot cover a transaction, SECU first tries to transfer funds automatically from a linked protecting account under its free Overdraft Transfer Service. Only if both the checking account and the protecting account(s) have insufficient funds does the transaction result in a fee, and that fee is an NSF fee, not an overdraft fee.
The $12 NSF fee, and your free day each year
SECU charges $12 per item when a transaction cannot be covered and an NSF fee applies. But SECU also offers an NSF Fee Free Day: the first day of each calendar year that an NSF fee would otherwise be charged, SECU waives it. Re-presentments of the same returned item do not trigger an additional fee.
SECU also offers Another Chance Alerts for members enrolled in Overdraft Transfer Service, so you can try to cover an item before an NSF fee posts.
Overdraft Transfer Service
SECU’s free Overdraft Transfer Service links up to two protecting accounts, such as a Share account, Money Market Share, another checking account, or an open-end line of credit, to your checking account. When your checking account cannot cover a transaction, SECU automatically moves available funds from your primary protecting account first, then your secondary one if needed, in whole-dollar amounts. There is no fee for this service.
How SECU (NC) compares to the average U.S. bank
Bankrate’s 2025 checking account and ATM fee study found the average overdraft fee across U.S. banks is $26.77 and the average NSF (non-sufficient funds) fee is $16.82. 61% of accounts surveyed still charge an overdraft fee at all, and 66% offer some kind of grace period or no-fee cushion before charging one.
| Category | SECU (NC) |
|---|---|
| Overdraft fee vs. $26.77 average | $0, well below the $26.77 average |
| NSF fee vs. $16.82 average | $12, below the $16.82 average, and the first NSF of the year is free |
How to avoid overdraft fees and mistakes
- Enroll in Overdraft Transfer Service. It’s free and can prevent an NSF fee before it happens.
- Use your NSF Fee Free Day. SECU already waives the first NSF fee you’d incur each calendar year.
- Set up account alerts to catch a low balance before a transaction posts.
- Keep a small balance in your protecting accounts so Overdraft Transfer Service actually has funds to move.
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How this compares to other banks
Here is how this account lines up against a few named banks we track, using each bank’s own current fee schedule.
| Bank (typical account) | Overdraft fee | No-fee cushion |
|---|---|---|
| SECU (NC) | $0, none charged | $12 NSF fee, first day/year free |
| America First Credit Union | $25, paid or returned | No published free cushion |
| Huntington (Asterisk-Free) | $15, up to 3/day | $50 Safety Zone + 24-Hour Grace |
| Chase (Total Checking) | $34, up to 3/day | $50 buffer + Overdraft Assist |
| Ally Bank (Spending Account) | $0, none charged | No cap needed |
See fee details for more banks in our overdraft fees by bank comparison page.
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FAQ
Does SECU (State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina) charge an overdraft fee?
No. SECU does not charge an overdraft fee on its Checking Account.
What is SECU’s NSF fee?
$12 per item, charged when a transaction cannot be covered by your checking account or a linked protecting account.
What is SECU’s NSF Fee Free Day?
The first day of each calendar year that an NSF fee would otherwise apply, SECU waives it automatically.
Does SECU charge for Overdraft Transfer Service?
No. Enrollment and use of Overdraft Transfer Service is free.
Is this the North Carolina SECU or a different SECU?
This guide covers State Employees’ Credit Union, headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina (ncsecu.org). Other credit unions and banks use similar SECU abbreviations in other states and are not covered here.
Can I be charged more than one NSF fee for the same returned item?
No. SECU excludes identified re-presentments of the same item from additional NSF fees.
