Overdraft Services

An overdraft occurs when you do not have enough available funds in your account to cover a transaction, but the Bank processes and pays the transaction.

Overdrafts can happen when funds are not available to cover the entire amount of a transaction. These transactions include the payment of checks, debit card purchases, ATM transactions, automatic bill payments and electronic transfers. Deposited items which are returned unpaid can also cause your account to be overdrawn.

Overdraft Services are a form of overdraft coverage that we use at our discretion to pay transactions when you do not have sufficient available funds in your account. After your account has been opened, you may be eligible for this discretionary service. If you are eligible, an Overdraft Service limit will be assigned to your account. The amount of the Overdraft Service limit assigned to your account can change (go up or down) at any time. The amount may be based on several factors including your account history and deposit activity and patterns.

With Overdraft Services, we may choose (but are not obligated) to cover overdrafts on your account. This is a discretionary service, which means we have the right to refuse to pay any transaction that would overdraw your account.

Yes, we charge a $35 Overdraft Fee each time we pay a transaction presented against insufficient available funds in your account and a $35 Insufficient Funds Fee each time we return a transaction presented against insufficient available funds in your account. We may impose multiple fees as well as the same fees multiple times in connection with a single check, ACH, or other transaction that has been returned or presented multiple times. We do not charge the $35 Overdraft Fee for any item which overdraws your account by $5 or less. The maximum amount of Overdraft Fees and/or Insufficient Funds Fees we will charge per day is $210 (or a total of six paid and/or returned items). Refer to our Schedule of Fees and Charges for additional information regarding these fees.

Our Overdraft Services are divided into two coverage options: Standard Overdraft Service and Expanded Overdraft Service, depending on the types of transactions for which you want overdraft coverage.

Upon account opening, you are automatically enrolled in our Standard Overdraft Service. Under our Standard Overdraft Service, we may at our discretion cover overdrafts resulting from your checks, ACH transactions (including automatic bill payments), and other transactions made using your account number. We charge your account a $35 Overdraft Fee for each of these transactions that overdraw your account (up to $210 per day, or a total of six paid and/or returned items). You can opt out of Standard Overdraft Service coverage anytime.

If you want to have your ATM transactions and everyday debit card transactions (such as a purchase you make at a merchant) covered in addition to what is covered under our Standard Overdraft Service then you must elect to opt in to our Expanded Overdraft Service.

Under our Expanded Overdraft Service, we may at our discretion cover overdrafts resulting from ATM transactions and everyday debit card transactions in addition to your checks, ACH transactions (including automatic bill payments), and other transactions made using your account number. If you opt in to Expanded Overdraft Service coverage, we will charge your account a $35 Overdraft Fee for each ATM transaction or everyday debit card transaction that we pay that overdraws your account, as well as for each check, ACH transaction (including automatic bill payments), and other transactions made using your checking account number that we pay that overdraws your account (up to $210 per day, or a total of six paid and/or returned items). You can choose not to have Expanded Overdraft Service coverage at any time.

Yes. If you do not want us to pay any items that will cause an overdraft on your account, you may choose to have No Overdraft Service coverage. If you opt out of Overdraft Service coverage, we will return checks, ACH transactions (including automatic bill payments), and other transactions made using your account number that are presented against insufficient available funds (unless you have Linked Overdraft Protection or Extra Cash Overdraft Protection). We charge a $35 Insufficient Funds Fee for returning these types of transactions (up to $210 per day, or a total of six paid and/or returned items). Your ATM or everyday debit card transactions that would cause an overdraft will generally be declined, and we do NOT charge a fee if this happens.

If you want to cancel or change your Overdraft Service type, you may do so at any time by visiting your local branch, calling 1-800-848-1088, or notifying us in writing at Westamerica Bank, Direct Data Entry, B-2X, P.O. Box 1200, Suisun City, CA 94585-1200.

Automatic Balance Alerts
You can sign up for our automatic balance alerts which are available to StarConnect Plus online banking customers. If you sign up for automatic balance alerts, we will notify you if the account reaches a preset threshold you select. Alerts may help you avoid an overdraft, but are not intended to serve as a substitute for carefully monitoring the account balance and transactions. You should NOT rely solely on automatic balance alerts to avoid an overdraft. Additional terms and fees may apply.

Don’t “play the float” and don’t spend more than you have
When you write a check or authorize other transactions, record the check or other transaction immediately and consider the money unavailable for anything else. It is difficult to predict when it will be presented to us for payment by the payee. Guessing the length of time before a check or other transaction clears and using those funds for something else (“playing the float”) could cause costly overdrafts if the check or other transaction is presented to us for payment sooner than you anticipate and sufficient funds are no longer available.

Keep extra money in your account
Extra money in your account provides a safety net, which could keep you from becoming overdrawn.

Establish Direct Deposit
You may not always have time to go to the Bank, so set up direct deposit of your payroll, social security, retirement or pension to have your income conveniently deposited into your account.

Consider Overdraft Protection
We offer alternatives that may be less costly and may help you avoid overdrafts. For example, you may have another Westamerica account linked to your account (Linked Overdraft Protection), or you can apply for an Extra Cash Overdraft Protection line of credit. For details about these services, visit your local branch, or call us at 1-800-848-1088.

The best way to avoid overdrafts is to manage your account responsibly and not become overdrawn.

Record all of your transactions
A check register is a valuable tool. Keep an accurate and current record of all of your transactions, which may include checks, debit card purchases and upcoming automatic payments. This will help you to remember outstanding transactions that the Bank may have not yet received.

Be aware of your available balance
You can access your account balance online, via an ATM or by calling us at (800) 848-1088. Keep in mind that your account balance is continually changing and may not reflect outstanding transactions.

Yes. In addition to our Standard or Expanded Overdraft Service, you may also have Linked Overdraft Protection and/or Extra Cash Overdraft Protection.

Summary of Overdraft Fees and Overdraft Options

The Overdraft Service option you choose, along with any Linked Overdraft Protection or Extra Cash Overdraft Protection line of credit you may also have, will determine whether a transaction may be approved and paid, and what fees may be charged, should the transaction be presented against insufficient available funds in your account.

Overdraft Examples

If you have any questions, or want more information about our Overdraft Services, Linked Overdraft Protection or Extra Cash, stop by your local branch or call us at 1-800-848-1088.

http://www.mymoney.gov
Sponsored by the U.S. government, this site teaches the basics of financial education and provides information to help you make smart financial decisions. 

http://www.aba.com/consumers
The American Bankers Association Education Foundation offers consumer resources on topics such as finance management and fraud prevention.

http://www.consumer.ftc.gov
The Federal Trade Commission offers consumers practical information on a variety of topics to help you avoid fraud and exercise your consumer rights.