Can I withdraw money from the ATM if my account is negative?
Always make sure that there are enough available funds in your account to cover withdrawal transactions you make. You may be able to withdraw money if you have a negative balance, but you'll risk being charged overdraft fees.
(12 C.F.R § 205.17 (2024).) So, if you want overdraft protection for debit card and ATM card transactions, you must opt into your bank's overdraft protection program. With overdraft protection, your bank will allow debit and ATM transactions to go through even if you don't have enough funds in your account.
If you have an arranged overdraft, you will be able to withdraw up to the limit of your overdraft limit. This will exclude any funds attached to pending transactions.
You can't withdraw money from an account with no money in it. You still have options. Just make a deposit and put money into your account, and then you can withdraw money from that account.
A negative bank account is a red flag for lenders, and many will reject your application for a cash advance or loan. The key to a successful financial future is to avoid an overdrawn checking account. If you miscalculate or make a mistake, finding ways to bring your account positive quickly is critical.
If your checking account is not enrolled in Debit Card Overdraft Service and you don't have enough available money in your checking account or in accounts linked for Overdraft Protection, ATM and everyday (one-time) debit card transactions will be declined at the time of the transaction.
While policies vary by issuer, you can often request a refund of the negative balance via check or direct deposit, or it can be left on the account to cover future purchases.
If you choose to opt in to debit card and ATM overdraft, you are usually allowed to make ATM withdrawals and debit card purchases even if you do not have enough funds at the time of the transaction. However, you will generally incur fees on transactions that settle against a negative balance later.
An overdraft limit is the maximum amount that banks allow you to withdraw. For example, you might have a bank account balance of $5,000 with an overdraft limit of $500. It means that you can spend up to $5,500, but you can't withdraw or request for an added money if the payment exceeds the limit.
- Transfer Money Into Your Account.
- Balance Your Account.
- Pay for Any Denied Purchases.
- Ask Your Bank to Refund Any Fees.
- Set up Overdraft Protection.
- Set up Account Alerts.
- Research Checking Account Options.
Can you withdraw money from your savings account if your checking account is negative?
If you overdraw your checking account, the bank can pull funds from your savings to cover the shortage, as long as you have enough funds available. Your bank may still charge you a fee for transferring the funds automatically, but it is typically less than an overdraft charge.
- Trust funds.
- Credit unions.
- Councils.
- Energy providers.
- The Government.
- Charities.

Fixed-rate savings accounts
For some fixed rate accounts, you can't take out your money before the term ends.
- Immediately Stop Using the Account. The first step to managing negative bank account balances is to stop using the account until you have brought it back to positive. ...
- Analyze Your Account Activity. ...
- Deposit Funds. ...
- Negotiate With Your Bank.
Passbook loans allow you to use your savings account as collateral for a loan. Most banks and credit unions let you borrow up to 100% of the amount in your account. These loans may offer lower interest rates than a credit card or personal loan secured without collateral.
Bank/institution | NerdWallet rating | Overdraft star rating |
---|---|---|
Navy Federal Credit Union Free EveryDay Checking Read review | 4.7/5 Best for Overdrafts | 5.0/5 |
Discover® Cashback Debit Learn more at Discover® Bank, Member FDIC | 5.0/5 Best for Overdrafts | 5.0/5 |
One Debit Read review | 4.3/5 Best for Overdrafts | 5.0/5 |
How can you withdraw money if you have insufficient funds for an ATM? You usually need at least $20 plus any fees to withdraw cash from an ATM. If you don't have that much, you'll have to use another method, such as getting cash back for a purchase with your debit card.
A financial institution's action of temporarily suspending or restricting access to a bank account makes it a frozen bank account. This means you won't be able to transfer money or withdraw funds, and any scheduled payments will be temporarily paused.
Your bank often sets daily limits for ATM withdrawals and purchases. If you try to withdraw more money than your daily limit or make a high-value purchase, your card may be declined.
You also have the option of enrolling in Optional Overdraft Coverage for ATM transactions and everyday debit card purchases. This service allows you to make Debit Card purchases or ATM withdrawals even if you don't have enough money in a particular account.
Can I still spend money if my account is negative?
In some cases, you may be able to make purchases even if you have a negative balance. Some banks even offer debit card overdraft coverage to help eligible transactions go through at the bank's discretion. However, this depends on your bank's policies and the specific type of account you have.
If you have a significant negative balance and don't need to transfer it to another card, you may want to ask to receive the negative balance in cash. Often, banks will give you the cash amount through direct deposit or mail you a physical check for the amount they owe you.
- Make a transfer to cover the charges. ...
- Ask your bank for a refund. ...
- Stop using the account. ...
- Use these tips to avoid overdrafts. ...
- Track your expenses. ...
- Use low balance alerts. ...
- Reconsider overdraft protection.
No charges apply if you go into an unarranged overdraft. But you will not be able to withdraw cash or transfer money until your account balance is back in credit or within its limit. Unarranged overdrafts can be bad for your credit score.
Cash App will never charge you any overdraft fees for overdrawing your balance. Accounts may receive up to $200 in free overdraft coverage, but coverage limits for individual accounts will vary and can change over time. Support cannot manually increase any account's free overdraft coverage limit.