Overdraft Privilege Overview

8 Reasons You'll Appreciate Overdraft Privilege

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Coverage Options

Choose the Overdraft Privilege coverage that's right for you: standard, extended, or no coverage at all.

Standard Coverage – You can elect to have Overdraft Privilege cover only checks, ACH items and recurring debit (typically used for automatic payment of subscriptions, dues, utility payments, etc.), and in-person transactions but NOT cover ATM or everyday Debit Card transactions. Keep in mind that if the amount of an ATM or everyday Debit Card transaction exceeds your available balance, it will be declined. For example, if you were trying to pay for groceries with your First Midwest Debit Card and the amount due totaled more than your available account balance, the purchase would be declined at the checkout counter.

Extended Coverage – You can elect to extend Overdraft Privilege coverage to include ATM and everyday Debit Card transactions as well. Just give us your consent. You get the peace of mind of knowing that your transactions will be covered up to the amount of your limit in case of emergency or if you make an accounting error. And, you'll avoid the embarrassment of having your Debit Card purchase declined at the checkout counter. You can extend your Overdraft Privilege coverage by:

• Calling our Automated Overdraft Privilege line at 877-907-1717
• Logging in above or at firstmidwest.com/overdraftprivilege 
• Visiting one of our branch locations 

Important – If you do not choose to extend your Overdraft Privilege Coverage, your ATM or Debit Card will no longer work in emergency or unexpected situations if you do not have available funds in your account.

No Coverage – You can remove the Overdraft Privilege coverage entirely. Just tell us to remove the coverage at any time. This means that if your checks or ACH items exceed the available balance in your account, they will be returned to the payee and you will be charged a Returned Item Fee of $35 in addition to whatever fees the merchant may charge you for items returned as insufficient. If you try to use your ATM or Debit Card and the amount of the transaction is more than your available balance, your transaction will be declined. For example, if you were trying to pay for groceries with your First Midwest Debit Card and the amount due totaled more than your available account balance, the purchase would be declined at the checkout counter.

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Consumer Discretionary Overdraft Privilege Policy

It is the policy of First Midwest Bank to comply with all applicable laws and regulations and to conduct business in accordance with applicable safety and soundness standards.

The Retail Account Agreement and Disclosure provided to you at the time you opened your account with us, as amended, controls the duties, obligations and rights of you, your authorized users and First Midwest Bank with regard to your checking, savings and/or money market accounts. If there is any conflict between the Retail Account Agreement and Disclosure and any provision of this Consumer Discretionary Overdraft Privilege Policy, the Retail Account Agreement and Disclosure controls. A copy of the Retail Account Agreement and Disclosure is available to you on request from your First Midwest Personal Banker.

Overdraft Privilege is not a line of credit. However, if you inadvertently overdraw your account, we will have the discretion to pay the overdraft and the amount of the Overdraft fee, subject to the maximum limit of your Overdraft Privilege. First Midwest Bank is not obligated to pay any item presented for payment if your account does not contain sufficient available funds. Any discretionary payment by First Midwest Bank of an overdraft item does not obligate First Midwest Bank to pay any other overdraft item, or to provide prior notice of its decision to refuse to pay such item. For example, we typically do not pay overdrafts if your account is not in good standing, or you are not making regular deposits.

Pursuant to First Midwest Bank’s commitment to always provide you with the best level of service, now and in the future, First Midwest Bank will have the discretion to pay overdrafts within the Overdraft Privilege limits, if your consumer account (primarily used for personal, family and household purposes) has been open for at least thirty (30) calendar days, and you maintain your account and each of your other First Midwest Bank accounts in good standing. “Good standing” means, at a minimum, you:

A) Bring your account to a positive balance for a minimum of one business day within each thirty (30) calendar day period; and

B) Are not in default on any loan or other obligation to First Midwest Bank.

This Overdraft Privilege for consumer checking, savings, and money market accounts will generally be limited to a maximum of $500 overdraft (negative) balance. Any and all fees and charges, including without limitation the Overdraft and Returned Item Fees, will be included in the overdraft amount. Your overdraft amount may exceed the Overdraft Privilege amount as a result of the assessment of a fee.

The total overdraft amount, including any and all fees and charges, is due and payable upon demand, and you and your authorized users will continue to be liable, jointly and severally, for all such amounts, as described in the Retail Account Agreement and Disclosure. Our standard Overdraft fee of $35 will be imposed for overdrafts created by checks, drafts, in-person withdrawals or transfers, preauthorized electronic funds transfers, ACH transactions, telephone transfers, automatic loan payments, online banking transactions or other means, each an “item”. However, we will not charge you for more than 5 overdraft items (per account) in one day. And, we will not charge you any fees if your account is overdrawn by less than $5. If your account remains overdrawn for seven (7) calendar days, we will charge an additional Daily Overdraft Fee of $6.50 per day beginning on the first business day following that period. Transactions may not be paid in the order in which they occurred, or were received or authorized by us, and the order in which transactions are paid may impact the total number of overdrafts and the amount of fees incurred. First Midwest Bank pays items as disclosed in your Retail Account Agreement and Disclosure in the section titled “Overdrafts/Returned Items, Posting Order and Fees.” However, we reserve the right to change this order at any time. Balances at an ATM or other point of inquiry will not include your Overdraft Privilege amount; however items may be paid in excess of the balance provided, creating an overdraft.

While First Midwest Bank will have the discretion to pay overdrafts on accounts in good standing (as described above), any such payment is a discretionary courtesy, and not your right or an obligation of First Midwest Bank. First Midwest Bank in its sole and absolute discretion, can cease paying overdrafts without reason or cause at any time without prior notice.

For our consumer clients, First Midwest Bank will not authorize overdrafts for Card purchase transactions unless First Midwest Bank has provided you with the notice required by Regulation E and you have elected to extend your Overdraft Privilege coverage to include payment of these overdrafts. First Midwest Bank will place a hold on your account for any Card purchase transaction authorized until the transaction is paid. This hold will reduce your available balance and reduce or eliminate your account balance available to pay for other items we receive for payment. Card purchase transactions usually are paid within two business days after the transaction is authorized. The amount of the hold will be for the amount authorized, or as otherwise permitted or required under applicable payment network rules. Holds on authorized Card purchase transactions will be removed prior to payment.

You may contact our Overdraft Services Department at 888.312.6100 for questions or concerns related to Overdraft Privilege; to remove Overdraft Privilege from your account(s); or to discuss alternative overdraft protection services that may provide a less expensive means to handle overdrafts.

Know your options. Understand the trade-offs. Make the best choice for you.

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