Balance and Availability FAQs

What is Available Balance?

The portion of your account balance that is available for you to spend at any given time.

Your available balance changes as you make transactions against your account during the day. Deposits will increase your available balance based on our Funds Availability Policy, and withdrawals and purchases you make reduce your available balance.

Available Balance does not reflect:

• Written checks that haven’t been cashed and posted (i.e., subtracted from your Account Balance).
• Bill payments that you scheduled in online banking that haven’t posted yet.
• Pending pre-authorized debits such as utilities or subscriptions.

 

What does Funds Availability mean?

Different types of deposits are available at different times and special rules and considerations apply including the type of funds deposited, the method of deposit and whether the account is considered new. Please review our Funds Availability Policy for additional information.

Tips

• Keep a cushion in your account in case a bill, like an electric bill, is more than you anticipated.
• Remember that not every purchase is deducted in the same way so it is important to keep track of your balance, using a checkbook register, Excel document or budget app. Deduct transactions from your balance at the time you initiate the debit so you can account for transactions that have not yet been processed.
  • For example, a check can clear on the same day it was issued or even take weeks to be cashed so you don’t want to be surprised by a check that you forgot you wrote. Another example is when you buy something online, the money can be deducted from your account at the time of the purchase, or when the product ships.

• Set a reminder on your phone or in your calendar noting when automatic recurring payments will be deducted from your account so you don’t forget and accidentally overspend the day before the withdrawal occurs.
  • An example is a Netflix subscription or a cell phone bill.

Tools

• Schedule one-time or recurring payments from online banking BillPay so you know when withdrawals will occur. Be sure to deduct the amount from your balance before it is scheduled to be paid so that you know what you have left to spend after the payment is deducted.
• Check your account balance regularly using Online Bankingor our mobile app.
• Use direct deposit to have access to your paycheck immediately. Set up is easy with ClickSWITCH.
• Set low balance alerts on your checking account - you'll get a text message when your balance drops below an amount that you've chosen.
• Set spending goals each month and use Money Manager to track your personal expenses. If you keep track of your budget, it is much easier to keep track of your spending and avoid overdrawing your account. 
• Enroll in Overdraft Protection by linking your checking account to a savings account, line of credit or another checking account.^1,2
• Review your Standard Overdraft Coverage options using the Debit/ATM Card Overdraft Authorization Guide to choose the best option for you.
• Use our Confidence Card which is a checkless account equipped with a Mastercard^® debit card that only allows you to spend the money you have, which means no overdraft fees ever.

Consumer Credit Counseling
If you need additional help managing your finances, a credit counseling agency could be a big help. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has a "Choosing a Credit Counselor" document that includes a list of government-approved credit counseling agencies that provide low-cost credit counseling services.