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Updated August 2026.
How much is Synovus’s overdraft fee? Synovus charges $36 per overdraft occurrence on most accounts ($29 on Military Checking), capped at 3 fees a day. There is no fee if you are $5 or less negative, or $50 or less negative if you are enrolled in Overdraft Privilege. Synovus Bank now operates as a division of Pinnacle Bank following the 2026 Pinnacle-Synovus merger.
| Synovus overdraft, at a glance | What it means |
|---|---|
| Overdraft fee | $36 per occurrence (most accounts); $29 for Military Checking |
| Maximum fees per day | 3 |
| No-fee cushion (not enrolled in Overdraft Privilege) | No fee if overdrawn by $5 or less |
| No-fee cushion (enrolled in Overdraft Privilege) | No fee if overdrawn by $50 or less |
| Returned-item (NSF) fee | Not listed as a separate line item on Synovus’s current personal fee schedule |
| Overdraft Protection Transfer | No charge |
| Budget Checking | No standard overdraft coverage. Transactions decline instead |
Fees verified August 17, 2026 from the Synovus Schedule of Fees and Charges, Personal Accounts (effective January 2, 2026).
How Synovus’s overdraft fee works
Synovus charges $36 each time it pays a transaction that overdraws your account, up to 3 times a day. Military Checking accounts get a lower $29 fee, also capped at 3 per day, for a maximum $87 in a single day.
The cushion, and how Overdraft Privilege changes it
By default, Synovus will not charge a fee if your account ends the day overdrawn by $5 or less. If you are enrolled in Overdraft Privilege (Standard or Extended Coverage), that cushion grows to $50 or less.
What about NSF fees?
Synovus’s current personal Schedule of Fees and Charges does not list a separate NSF or returned-item fee next to its $36/$29 Overdrafts fee. If a payment is returned unpaid, ask Synovus whether any other fee applies to your account. The Synovus Plus relationship tier advertises no NSF fees as a perk.
Synovus is now part of Pinnacle Financial Partners
Pinnacle Financial Partners and Synovus Financial Corp. completed their merger on January 1-2, 2026, forming a combined bank with about $117 billion in assets. Synovus Bank has been folded into Pinnacle Bank, though the Synovus brand is expected to continue through 2026 before full consolidation under the Pinnacle name in early 2027. Synovus’s own current fee schedule already carries a “Pinnacle Bank, a Tennessee bank, dba Synovus Bank” footer.
How Synovus 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 | Synovus |
|---|---|
| Overdraft fee vs. $26.77 average | $36 per item, above the $26.77 average |
| NSF fee vs. $16.82 average | not separately listed on the current fee schedule |
How to avoid overdraft fees and mistakes
- Stay inside your cushion. $5 without Overdraft Privilege, $50 if enrolled.
- Consider Budget Checking if you would rather have transactions decline than pay overdraft fees.
- Set up account alerts through the My Synovus app.
- Ask about Synovus Plus if you want the no-NSF-fee relationship tier and qualify for the balance requirements.
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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 |
|---|---|---|
| Synovus (most accounts) | $36, up to 3/day | $5 cushion, $50 with Overdraft Privilege |
| 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 |
| U.S. Bank (Smartly) | $36 per item over $5 | $50 buffer + Fee Forgiven |
| Ally Bank (Spending Account) | $0, none charged | No cap needed |
See fee details for more banks in our overdraft fees by bank page.
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FAQ
How much is Synovus’s overdraft fee?
Synovus charges $36 per overdraft occurrence on most accounts, or $29 on Military Checking, capped at 3 fees per day.
What is Synovus’s overdraft cushion?
No fee applies if you are overdrawn by $5 or less. That grows to $50 or less if you are enrolled in Overdraft Privilege.
Does Synovus charge an NSF fee?
Synovus’s current personal fee schedule does not list a separate NSF fee. The Plus relationship tier advertises no NSF fees as a perk.
Is Synovus Bank still called Synovus?
Synovus merged with Pinnacle Financial Partners on January 1-2, 2026. The Synovus brand continues through 2026 before consolidating under the Pinnacle name in early 2027.
Does Synovus charge for overdraft protection transfers?
No. Overdraft Protection Transfers are free.
What is Budget Checking at Synovus?
A low-fee account with no standard overdraft coverage. Transactions that would overdraw the account are declined instead of paid.
