Bounce Protection
Having a check returned due to insufficient funds can be a costly and humiliating experience. That’s why we provide “Bounce Protection,” a special overdraft privilege for American National Bank of DeKalb County’s checking customers. Bounce Protection gives you an added level of protection against unanticipated cash flow emergencies and account reconciliation errors. At American National Bank of DeKalb County, we do not encourage overdrafts. As always, we encourage you to manage your finances responsibly. The purpose of this privilege is to save you from the embarrassment, additional merchant fees or other problems that might result if a check is returned.
- What is Bounce Protection?
- How does Bounce Protection work?
- What does my Bounce Protection cost?
- How soon can I use my Bounce Protection?
- How do I know when I use the overdraft limit? What if I go beyond my Bounce Protection limit?
- How quickly must I repay my Bounce Protection?
- What are some of the ways I may have access to my Bounce Protection limit? Will my limit be reflected in the balance I receive?
- What if I do not want to have Bounce Protection on my checking account?
- Bounce Protection Disclosures
What is Bounce Protection?
Bounce Protection is an overdraft privilege limit that is automatically assigned to your account. There is no action required on your part. You do not need to sign anything.
How does Bounce Protection work?
As long as you maintain your account in good standing (defined as making regular deposits and bringing your account to a positive balance at lease once every 30 days), American National Bank of DeKalb County may honor overdrafts up to the Bounce Protection limit on your account.
What does my Bounce Protection cost?
There is not additional cost associated with this privilege unless you use it. However, you should keep in mind that you will be charged our standard NSF fee of $35 for each item paid under the limit.
How soon can I use my Bounce Protection?
If you are a new active account holder, you may be able to use the overdraft privilege limit assigned to your account 30 days after the account is opened. What is my Bounce Protection limit? If I have two checking accounts, can I get Bounce Protection on both? 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.
| Checkless Checking | $ 300 |
| Budget Checking | $ 300 |
| Eagle Pac Checking | $ 300 |
| Club Checking | $ 500 |
| Personal Checking | $ 500 |
| Funtimers NOW Account | $1,000 |
| American Eagle Investment Account | $1,500 |
| Personal NOW Account | $1,500 |
| DCTA Now Account | $1,500 |
| Money Market Account | $1,500 |
| Super Checking | $1,500 |
How do I know when I use the overdraft limit? What if I go beyond my Bounce Protection limit?
You will receive an overdraft notice in the mail each time items are paid. Overdrafts above and beyond your established Bounce Protection limit may result in a check or checks being returned to the payee. The standard NSF fee will be charged per item and assessed to your account. So as not to exceed your limit if you use Bounce Protection, you should note that the amount of the overdraft plus our standard NSF fee of $35 for each item will be deducted from your overdraft limit.
How quickly must I repay my Bounce Protection?
You should make every attempt to bring your account to a positive balance within 30 days. If you are not able to do so, you will receive a letter from American National Bank of DeKalb County informing you of the situation and your options. If, after a period of time, your account has not been brought to a positive balance, we may suspend your overdraft privilege limit and take other steps to recover funds.
What are some of the ways I may have access to my Bounce Protection limit? Will my limit be reflected in the balance I receive?
The chart below is designed to make you aware of the different ways you can access your Bounce Protection limit and whether or not this limit will be reflected in the balance provided.
| Access Points | Is My Overdraft Privlege Limit Available? | Does The Balance Provided Reflect My Overdraft Privlege Limit? |
|---|---|---|
| Teller | Yes | Yes |
| Writing A Check | Yes | -NA- |
| MasterMoney Debit Card | Yes | -NA- |
| ATM Withdrawal | Yes | Yes |
| ACH-Auto Debit | Yes | -NA- |
| Amerinet | Yes | Yes |
| Tel-e-Bank | Yes | Yes |
By keeping accurate records and knowing our balance, you can avoid mistakenly accessing your limit and incurring NSF fees. The best way to do this is to use your checkbook register to keep track of your deposits, written checks, withdrawals and ATM or debit card transactions. Always reconcile your register with your monthly bank statement.
What if I do not want to have Bounce Protection on my checking account?
In the event you would like to have this service removed from your account, you may do so by calling 815-756-1444. However, once this service is removed, you should keep in mind that if an item is presented for payment and there are not sufficient funds in our account, the item may be returned to the payee and our standard NSF fee of $35 will be charged per item.
Bounce Protection Disclosures
An insufficient balance could result in several ways, such as (1) the payment of checks, electronic funds transfers or other withdrawal requests; (2) payments authorized by you; (3) the return of unpaid items deposited by you; (4) the imposition of bank service charges; or (5) the deposit of items which, according to the bank’s Funds Availability Policy, are treated as not yet available or finally paid. We are not obligated to pay any item presented for payment if your account does not contain sufficient funds. However, if you maintain your checking account in good standing (defined as making regular deposits and bringing your account to a positive balance at least once every 30 days) and there are no legal orders outstanding, we may approve your reasonable overdrafts as a non-contractual courtesy. You may opt out of the privilege at any time, but you are responsible for any overdrawn balances at the time of opting out. Normally we will not approve an overdraft for you in excess of the predetermined amount assigned to your account type. So as not to exceed your limit, you should note that the amount of the overdraft plus the bank’s standard NSF fee (per item) will be deducted from the overdraft limit. We may refuse to pay an overdraft for you at any time, even though we may have previously paid overdrafts for you. You will be notified by mail of any NSF items paid or returned that you may have; however, we have no obligation to notify you before we pay or return any item. The amount of any overdraft plus our standard NSF fee(s) that you owe us shall be due and payable upon demand. If there is an overdraft paid by us on an account with more than (1) owner on the signature card, each owner and agent, if applicable, drawing/presenting the item creating the overdraft, shall be jointly and severally liable for such overdraft plus our standard NSF fee(s).
Bounce Protection should not be viewed as an encouragement to overdraw your account. As always, we encourage you to manage your finances responsibly. In the event you would like to have this service removed from your account, you can do so by calling 815-756-1444. You should note that your Bounce Protection limit may be reflected in your balance provided by a teller, at the ATM or through Amerinet or Tel-e-Bank.
IMITATIONS: Bounce Protection is a non-contractual courtesy which is available to individually/jointly owned accounts in good standing for personal or household use. American National Bank of DeKalb County reserves the right to limit participation to one account per household and to discontinue this service without prior notice.
