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 is Woodforest National Bank’s overdraft fee? Woodforest charges $32 per item it pays into overdraft, capped at three fees a day. There is no fee if an item overdraws your account by $1.00 or less, and Woodforest does not charge a fee for NSF items returned unpaid. A linked-account sweep costs $5 per day. Woodforest also gives you a short same-day window: if you bring your account current by 11 a.m. Central Time, the bank will pay pending items whenever possible.
| Woodforest overdraft, at a glance | What it means |
|---|---|
| Overdraft fee | $32 per item |
| Daily limit | Up to 3 overdraft fees per day ($96 total) |
| No-fee cushion | No fee if an item overdraws the account by $1.00 or less |
| 11 a.m. cure window | Bring your account current, including related overdraft fees, by 11 a.m. Central Time and Woodforest will pay pending items whenever possible |
| Returned-item (NSF) fee | $0 for NSF items returned unpaid. ATM and everyday debit declines without opt-in are also free |
| Linked-account sweep transfer | $5 per day when an overdraft is covered by transfer from a linked checking or savings account |
| ATM and debit card overdrafts | Off unless you opt in |
| Account | Figures apply across Woodforest’s consumer checking lineup, including its Second Chance account |
Fees verified August 21, 2026 from Woodforest National Bank’s Checking Account Overview (TFC) and Second Chance Checking Account Overview (SCC), including the OD Services FAQ embedded in the SCC PDF.
How much does a Woodforest overdraft cost?
Woodforest charges $32 for each item it pays into overdraft, up to 3 fees a day, so the most a single day can cost is $96. There is no fee if a single item overdraws your account by $1.00 or less, though that threshold is narrow compared to some other banks. Linking a savings or second checking account for Account Sweep costs $5 per day when a transfer covers an overdraft, one daily fee no matter how many items, which can cost less than stacking $32 item fees.
The 11 a.m. cure window
Woodforest gives account holders a short same-day opportunity: if you bring your account current, meaning you cover both the negative balance and any related overdraft fees already charged, by 11 a.m. Central Time, the bank will pay pending items whenever possible instead of returning them. This is not a fee-reversal grace period like some banks offer; it is a cutoff tied to whether pending items still get paid that day. Not stated in current disclosures: whether meeting the 11 a.m. deadline can reverse a fee already charged, as opposed to simply helping a pending item post successfully.
Does Woodforest charge a returned-item (NSF) fee?
Woodforest’s OD Services FAQ states there is no charge for NSF items returned unpaid. If you are not opted in, ATM withdrawals and everyday debit card purchases that would overdraw the account are declined at no cost. Linked-account overdraft sweeps carry a $5 per day transfer fee.
Overdraft protection options
Woodforest offers Account Sweep, which moves money from a linked checking or savings account to cover a shortfall for $5 per day (one fee per day, not per item). Woodforest also offers a ReLi revolving line of credit on credit approval: 16.99% APR unsecured, or 7.99% APR secured, per the Second Chance Checking Account Overview.
Which transactions can overdraw your account?
By default, Woodforest declines ATM withdrawals and everyday debit card purchases that would overdraw your account, and that decline costs nothing. Coverage for those transaction types only applies if you opt in. Checks and other electronic transactions can be paid into overdraft, or returned unpaid, at Woodforest’s discretion, without any opt-in required from you.
| Transaction type | What happens if funds are short |
|---|---|
| ATM withdrawal (not opted in) | Declined at the machine, no cash dispensed, no fee |
| Everyday debit card purchase (not opted in) | Declined at checkout, no fee |
| ATM or debit purchase (opted in) | May be paid into overdraft, $32 fee may apply |
| Checks and other electronic transactions | May be paid into overdraft, or returned unpaid, at the bank’s discretion; $32 fee applies if paid |
A declined debit card purchase costs nothing at Woodforest, but a returned check or bill payment can still bring its own late fee from whoever you owed, something Woodforest does not control. Paying that item into overdraft for $32 can beat a larger outside late fee, while letting a small purchase decline usually costs less.
How to avoid Woodforest overdraft fees
- Watch your balance closely. Woodforest’s no-fee cushion is narrow, $1.00 or less.
- Consider Account Sweep. A linked transfer is $5 per day versus $32 per paid item.
- Use the 11 a.m. cure window. Covering the negative balance and any related fees by 11 a.m. Central helps pending items post instead of returning.
- Set up account alerts through Woodforest’s online or mobile banking to catch a low balance before it goes negative.
- Skip opting in to ATM and debit overdraft if you would rather have a purchase declined than pay $32.
- Track posting order. Woodforest posts credits first, then debits in categories from smallest to largest within each category, except checks, which post in check-number order, and this order affects how many fees you might see in one day.
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How Woodforest compares to the average US bank
Bankrate’s 2025 Checking Account and ATM Fee Study puts the average bank overdraft fee at $26.77. Woodforest’s $32 fee runs $5.23, or about 20%, above that average, without a meaningful cushion or grace period to soften it, unlike several banks that charge more per item but forgive small overdrafts entirely.
| Bank (typical account) | Overdraft fee | No-fee cushion |
|---|---|---|
| Woodforest (personal checking) | $32, up to 3/day | $1.00 or less |
| Average US bank (Bankrate 2025) | $26.77 | 66% of accounts give some leeway |
| Huntington (Asterisk-Free) | $15, up to 3/day | $50 Safety Zone + 24-Hour Grace |
| KeyBank (Key Smart Checking) | $20, up to 3/day | Key Coverage Zone, $20 threshold |
Source: Bankrate 2025 Checking Account and ATM Fee Study, published September 10, 2025, https://www.bankrate.com/press-releases/atm-fees-hit-record-high-for-third-consecutive-year/
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Woodforest overdraft FAQ
How much is Woodforest’s overdraft fee?
$32 per item, capped at 3 fees a day. There is no fee if an item overdraws the account by $1.00 or less.
What is Woodforest’s 11 a.m. cure window?
If you bring your account current, including any related overdraft fees, by 11 a.m. Central Time, Woodforest will pay pending items whenever possible instead of returning them.
Does Woodforest charge a returned-item or NSF fee?
No. Woodforest’s OD Services FAQ states there is no charge for NSF items returned unpaid. Declined ATM and everyday debit purchases without opt-in are free. Linked sweeps cost $5 per day.
Can Woodforest overdraft my debit card or ATM withdrawal?
Only if you opt in. By default those transactions are declined at no charge.
Does the same overdraft policy apply to Woodforest’s Second Chance account?
Yes. The $32 fee, 3-per-day cap, and ATM/debit opt-in mechanics are described the same way across Woodforest’s consumer checking overview documents, including the Second Chance Checking Account.
How does transaction posting order affect Woodforest overdraft fees?
Woodforest posts credits first, then debits by category from smallest to largest within each category, except checks, which post in check-number order. This order can change how many overdraft fees a given day’s transactions trigger.
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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