Regions Bank's overdraft fee is $36 per transaction when your account goes negative

When you make a purchase, withdrawal, or transfer that takes your Regions Bank account below zero, the bank charges you $36 for each transaction that overdrafts. This is the standard overdraft fee across most Regions checking accounts. The fee applies whether you overdraft by $1 or $100—the charge is the same.

Regions also charges a sustained overdraft fee of $36 per day if your account stays negative for more than five consecutive business days. This means if you overdraft on a Monday and don't bring your balance positive until the following Monday, you'll owe the daily fee for each day after the fifth day of being overdrawn.

The bank limits overdraft fees to a maximum of four per day, so you won't face more than $144 in daily overdraft charges in a single day, even if you make many transactions while overdrawn. However, the sustained overdraft fee can add up quickly if you remain negative for a week or longer.

Key Takeaways

  • Regions charges $36 each time a transaction overdrafts your account, regardless of how far below zero you go.
  • If your account stays negative for more than five business days, you owe an additional $36 per day until the balance is restored.
  • The bank caps overdraft fees at four per day, meaning the maximum daily charge is $144 from transaction fees alone.
  • Overdraft protection linked to a savings account or credit line can prevent these fees if you set it up before you overdraft.

How overdraft fees stack up over time

A single overdraft transaction costs $36, but the real expense comes when you stay overdrawn. If you overdraft on Monday and don't deposit funds until Friday, you'll owe $36 for the transaction itself, plus $36 per day for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday—a total of $180 for one mistake.

If you make multiple purchases while overdrawn, each one triggers the $36 fee up to four times daily. Imagine you overdraft by $50 on Monday, then make three more purchases on Tuesday while still negative. You'd owe $36 for Monday's transaction, plus $36 for Tuesday's sustained overdraft fee, plus $36 for each of the three new transactions (capped at four total fees that day). The costs compound quickly.

The sustained overdraft fee is where the real damage happens. Many people don't realize they're overdrawn for several days, and by the time they notice, they've accumulated $180 to $360 in fees on top of the original overdraft amount.

Overdraft protection: how to avoid the fee

Regions offers overdraft protection, which automatically transfers money from another account or credit line to cover the overdraft before the fee is charged. If you link your checking account to a Regions savings account, the bank will pull funds from savings to keep your checking balance positive. If you don't have savings, you can link a Regions credit line or credit card instead.

The transfer itself is free, but you may pay interest on the credit line if you use it. A savings account transfer costs nothing and charges no interest. The key is setting up overdraft protection before you overdraft—you cannot add it after the fact to avoid a fee you've already incurred.

Overdraft protection is optional. If you don't set it up, Regions will allow transactions to overdraft your account and charge the fee. Some customers prefer this because they want to control when money moves between accounts rather than having automatic transfers.

When Regions will and won't charge the overdraft fee

Regions charges the overdraft fee on most transaction types: debit card purchases, ATM withdrawals, checks, ACH transfers, and bill payments. The fee applies whether the transaction is in-person, online, or through a mobile app.

The bank does not charge overdraft fees on certain recurring bill payments or transfers if you've set them up through Regions' bill pay system, though this varies by account type. Some business accounts have different overdraft policies than consumer accounts. If you're unsure whether a specific transaction type is covered, contact Regions directly—the fee structure can differ slightly between account products.

Regions will not reverse an overdraft fee straightforward because you didn't notice your balance was low. However, if you've been a customer for a long time with a clean history, the bank may reverse one or two fees as a courtesy if you call and ask. There's no may provide, but it's worth asking if this is your first overdraft.

Comparing Regions overdraft fees to other banks

The $36 per-transaction overdraft fee is standard across most large banks. Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and Chase all charge $35 to $36 per overdraft. Some online banks and credit unions charge less—typically $25 to $30—or offer accounts with no overdraft fees at all.

The sustained overdraft fee is where Regions' pricing becomes more expensive. Many banks charge $5 to $10 per day if your account stays negative, while Regions charges $36 per day. Over a week, that's a $210 difference compared to a bank charging $5 daily.

If you frequently overdraft, switching to a bank with lower overdraft fees or no overdraft fees could save you hundreds of dollars per year. Credit unions often have more lenient overdraft policies and lower fees than national banks.

What happens if you ignore an overdraft

If your account stays overdrawn and you don't deposit funds, Regions will continue charging the $36 daily sustained overdraft fee until your balance goes positive. After 60 to 90 days of being overdrawn (the exact timeline varies), the bank may close your account and report it to ChexSystems, a banking history database that other banks check when you try to open a new account.

Once reported to ChexSystems, you may be denied accounts at other banks for up to five years. You can still open accounts at some banks and credit unions that don't use ChexSystems, but your options narrow significantly. Paying off the overdraft and any fees before the account is closed prevents this reporting.

If Regions closes your account due to a long-standing overdraft, you'll owe the full negative balance plus all accumulated fees. The bank may pursue collection action if the amount is large enough, which could result in wage garnishment or bank levies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Regions reverse an overdraft fee I already paid?

Regions may reverse one or two overdraft fees if you call and ask, especially if you have a long account history and this is your first overdraft. The bank has no obligation to do so, but customer service representatives have discretion. If you've had multiple overdrafts, reversal is less likely. There's no harm in asking.

Does overdraft protection cost anything?

Linking overdraft protection to a Regions savings account is free and charges no interest. Linking to a credit line is also free, but you'll pay interest on any balance you carry on the credit line. The transfer itself never costs a fee.

What's the difference between overdraft fees and NSF fees?

An overdraft fee is charged when Regions allows a transaction to go through and your account goes negative. An NSF (non-sufficient funds) fee is charged when the bank declines a transaction because you don't have enough money. Regions charges $36 for both, but overdraft fees explore to transactions that post, while NSF fees explore to transactions that are rejected.

If I set up overdraft protection, will it always prevent fees?

Overdraft protection will prevent overdraft fees as long as you have sufficient funds in the linked account or available credit on the linked credit line. If your savings account is also empty or your credit line is maxed out, the transfer will fail and you'll still be charged the overdraft fee.

How long does it take for an overdraft to clear from my account?

Once you deposit funds to bring your balance positive, the overdraft is cleared when ready. However, the fees you've already been charged remain on your account. If you were charged $36 for the overdraft and $36 for a day of sustained overdraft, those $72 in fees stay even after you deposit money.