“Banks call it a service,” the president said. “I call it exploitation.”
The Biden administration unveiled a new rule Wednesday aimed at slashing bank overdraft fees to as low as $3, a move the president said would help end abusive practices by financial institutions.
Under the proposal, banks could continue to charge fees when a customer’s account falls below zero, but either at a price in line with the bank’s actual costs to administer the overdraft or at an established benchmark created by the new rule.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed potential fees of $3, $6, $7 or $14 and is seeking feedback from banks and the public on what would be appropriate. Current overdraft fees often push $30 or more, taking a significant bite out of low-income accounts.
Isn’t it already the case that you can just set it so overdrafts won’t work and if you try to spend money you don’t have it just rejects? I’d rather have the rule be that by default with an opt-in for overdrafts that cost money.
Just seems weird to set hard dollar numbers in a rule, they’re going to get outdated and not worth it to the banks so they’ll just turn it off themselves, I’d rather have the option.