Columbia Bank One of the First Community Banks to Rethink Overdraft Protection
Columbia Bank, based in Fair Lawn, NJ, announced significant changes to its Consumer Overdraft Program effective August 15, 2022. The revamped program will eliminate uncollected fees on consumer checking accounts and introduce a $50 fee-free overdraft threshold. Additionally, the daily maximum insufficient funds fee will be reduced from four $35 charges to one $35 charge for overdrawn accounts exceeding $50. Columbia Bank aims to alleviate client concerns regarding overdraft fees while providing educational resources for better account management.
- Elimination of uncollected fees on consumer checking accounts.
- Introduction of a $50 fee-free overdraft threshold.
- Reduction of insufficient funds daily maximum fees from $140 to $35.
- None.
FAIR LAWN, N.J., Aug. 15, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Columbia Bank, a long standing leader in community banking, announced today that they will be modifying their Consumer Overdraft Program to minimize the impact of fees on clients. This move will make them one of the first to do so within the community banking space. The new program will take effect August 15, 2022 and will include the following changes:
- Elimination of Uncollected Fees on all consumer checking accounts. Clients will no longer be charged if funds are in an account to pay a presented item but are not yet available due to holds.
- Introduction of a
$50 fee-free overdraft threshold. Consumer clients won't incur an overdraft fee if a presented item would overdraw their account by$50 or less. - The insufficient funds daily maximum, including overdraft fees, will be lowered from 4 fees of
$35 t o 1 fee of$35 if a client’s account is overdrawn by more than$50.
“Our Bank’s tagline is ‘Count on Columbia’ and we truly incorporate that into everything we do. We are consistently reviewing our products and services to ensure we’re doing right by our clients and we recognize overdrafts are a client pain point,” said Thomas J. Kemly, President and CEO of Columbia Bank. “Our new Consumer Overdraft Program is designed to minimize the impact of overdraft fees for clients, while still providing a service that has you covered when mistakes happen. We’re proud to be one of the first community banks to rethink how overdrafts should work.”
Additionally, Columbia Bank will continue to provide education and build upon tools that help consumer clients to manage their accounts more effectively. Such items include:
- Financial literacy programs conducted by Columbia Bank. Programs cover topics like account management, digital tools, fraud prevention and more.
- Through our EVERFI strategic partnership, Columbia Bank sponsors the Financial Scholars Program in 15 local school districts. Students participating in the program learn banking fundamentals so they understand responsible money management.
- Digital tools such as low balance alerts, Online and Mobile Banking access and more.
For overdraft resources and more information on the Bank’s Consumer Overdraft Program, please visit https://www.columbiabankonline.com/personal-banking/personal-checking/consumer-overdraft.
About Columbia Bank
Founded in 1927 and headquartered in Fair Lawn, NJ, Columbia Bank has 66 full-service branch networks spanning the state of New Jersey, an asset base of approximately
Tony Rose
1st Senior Vice President, Marketing Director
201-794-5828
trose@columbiabankonline.com
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