The cost to overdraw a bank account could drop to as little as $3 under a proposal announced by the White House, the latest effort by the Biden administration to combat fees it says pose an unnecessary burden on American consumers, particularly those living paycheck to paycheck.

The change could potentially eliminate billions of dollars in fee revenue for the nation’s biggest banks, which were gearing up for a battle even before Wednesday’s announcement. Exactly how much revenue depends on which version of the new regulation is adopted.

Banks charge a customer an overdraft fee if their bank account balance falls below zero. Overdraft started as a courtesy offered to some customers when paper checks used to take days to clear, but proliferated thanks to the growing popularity of debit cards.

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    341 year ago

    This is good. What would be even better would be severely slashing APR on incurred credit card debt. Interest should be reasonable amounts that allow people to realistically pay back credit debt without barely being able to keep up with some financial mistakes.

    • Bakkoda
      link
      fedilink
      131 year ago

      Tie credit card rates to savings interest. Let them fight it out.

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      31 year ago

      It’s good, but its offering crumbs to people who are starving. Overdraft fees were extremely predatory and we’re being promised that after decades of that, maybe it will be reigned in, if we’re lucky.

      Meanwhile, the fucking world is ending.

      • @YeeterPan
        link
        111 months ago

        Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          111 months ago

          I understand the sentiment, but I’m tired of settling for “good” when “significantly better” is just there.

    • @scottywh
      link
      111 months ago

      I wouldn’t call that better necessarily but rather also good.