Fulton Bank to Eliminate Consumer Non-Sufficient Funds and Extended Overdraft Fees

Rhea-AI Summary

Fulton Bank, a subsidiary of Fulton Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: FULT), announced changes to its overdraft program, eliminating non-sufficient funds and extended overdraft fees for consumer customers starting in Q4 2022. This decision comes in response to customer feedback and aims to improve consumer banking services. Fulton Bank previously introduced the 'Xpress Account' in 2021, which offers a low-cost alternative with no overdraft fees. The bank emphasizes its commitment to adapting services to meet customer needs and expectations.

Positive

• Elimination of non-sufficient funds and extended overdraft fees improves customer relations.
• Introduction of 'Xpress Account' provides a low-cost, fee-free checking alternative.

Negative

• None.

LANCASTER, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Fulton Bank, N.A. (“Fulton Bank”) a subsidiary of Fulton Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: FULT), today announced changes coming to its overdraft program and fee schedule in support of its customers. In the fourth quarter of 2022, Fulton Bank will eliminate non-sufficient funds and extended overdraft fees for its consumer customers.

“We’ve received consumer customer feedback and this is another way we’re responding and helping,” said Andy Fiol, Head of Consumer Banking, Fulton Bank. “This is just one of several changes we’ve made or are making to meet customers’ needs and expectations regarding overdraft fees.”

Fulton Bank has a history of adapting its products and services in response to customer feedback and needs. In 2021, Fulton Bank launched “Xpress Account,” a checkless account offering consumer customers many of the benefits of a checking account without overdraft or non-sufficient funds fees with a low monthly maintenance charge. The “Xpress Account” is certified under the BankOn National Account Standards, which are designed to encourage financial institutions to provide consumers with access to safe and affordable checking accounts.

“We will continue to evaluate our consumer products, services and fee schedule to ensure we are providing industry-leading services to our consumer customers while, at the same time, continuing to change lives for the better,” said Fiol.

Fulton Bank’s Consumer Overdraft Terminology:

1. An overdraft: when an item, like a check, debit card transaction or electronic funds transfer, is paid on a deposit account without sufficient funds in the account to pay the item.
2. A non-sufficient funds fee: charged when an item would have caused an overdraft on a deposit account, but the bank rejects and does not pay the item.
3. An overdraft fee: charged when an overdraft occurs on a deposit account and the bank pays the item creating the overdraft.
4. An extended overdraft fee: may be charged when an overdraft occurs on a deposit account creating a negative balance and the account balance remains negative for more than five consecutive business days.

Consumer Overdraft Program Disclosures
Overdrafts may be created by check, ATM, or everyday debit card, in-person withdrawal, ACH, transfer, fees or other electronic means. Once an account becomes overdrawn, Fulton Bank expects that customers will bring the account to a positive balance immediately. Fulton Bank does not guarantee payment of overdrafts and reserves the right not to pay an overdraft item and may instead return or decline to authorize an overdraft item. Fulton Bank will generally pay overdrafts up to the limit disclosed to customers that are in good standing, which means that a customer’s account is not continuously overdrawn for more than 20 days, does not have any garnishments, levies, liens or bankruptcy, has had at least one deposit in the last 30 days, and overdraft/NSF (non-sufficient funds) fees did not exceed 10% of the most recent rolling 12 months of total deposits in the account. Currently, customers have five consecutive business days to bring an overdrawn account positive before being charged an Extended Overdraft Fee of $6 per day. Fulton Bank is eliminating the extended overdraft fee in the fourth quarter of 2022. The fee for the payment of each overdraft item, up to a maximum of four per day, is currently $39. To learn more, please see Fulton Bank’s consumer disclosure. Customers can also call 800-385-8664 for more information.

About Fulton Bank, N.A.
Headquartered in Lancaster, Pa., Fulton Bank is a premier community bank in the Mid-Atlantic region. As a subsidiary of Fulton Financial Corporation (the “Corporation”), a $26 billion financial services holding company, Fulton Bank offers a broad array of products and services at more than 200 financial centers across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. At Fulton Bank, we seek to change lives for the better by building strong customer relationships, providing significant community support and empowering more than 3,200 employees to do the same. Through the Fulton Forward^® initiative, we’re helping build vibrant communities. Learn more at www.FultonBank.com. Fulton Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.

Safe Harbor Statement
This news release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to the Corporation’s financial condition, results of operations and business. Do not unduly rely on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may," "should," "will," "could," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "continue," "anticipates," "believes," "plans," "expects," "future," "intends," “projects,” the negative of these terms and other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements may include projections of, or guidance on, the Corporation’s future financial performance, expected levels of future expenses, including future credit losses, anticipated growth strategies, descriptions of new business initiatives and anticipated trends in the Corporation’s business or financial results.

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts, nor assurance of future performance. Instead, the statements are based on current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of the Corporation’s business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Corporation’s control, and actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not unduly rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement is based only on information currently available and speaks only as of the date when made. The Corporation undertakes no obligation, other than as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

A discussion of certain risks and uncertainties affecting the Corporation, and some of the factors that could cause the Corporation's actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, can be found in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and other current and periodic reports, which have been or will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), and are or will be available in the Investor Relations section of the Corporation's website (www.fultonbank.com) and on the SEC's website (www.sec.gov).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220627005744/en/

Lacey Dean

(717) 735-8688

Source: Fulton Financial Corporation

FAQ

What changes is Fulton Bank making to its overdraft program in 2022?

Fulton Bank is eliminating non-sufficient funds and extended overdraft fees for consumer customers starting in Q4 2022.

What is the reason behind Fulton Bank's change in overdraft fees?

The change is in response to consumer customer feedback to better meet their needs.

What is the 'Xpress Account' introduced by Fulton Bank?

The 'Xpress Account' is a checkless account that offers the benefits of a checking account without overdraft or non-sufficient funds fees.

When will the new overdraft policy take effect at Fulton Bank?

The new overdraft policy will take effect in the fourth quarter of 2022.

What is the stock symbol for Fulton Financial Corporation?

The stock symbol for Fulton Financial Corporation is FULT.