Member Privilege

At times, unanticipated expenses or unforseen problems can leave you with too little cash in your checking account. Having a check returned due to insufficient funds can be a costly, inconvenient and potentially embarrassing experience.

At Community Credit Union, we do not encourage overdrafts. As always, we encourage you to manage your finances responsibly. However, we want to save you from the additional merchant fees and possible damage to your credit history that might result if a check is returned.  That's why we provide Member Privilege, a special overdraft service.

What is Member Privilege?

Member Privilege is a discretionary overdraft service, requiring no action on your part, that provides you a safety net up to an automatically assigned overdraft limit.

Your Member Privilege limit may be available for checks and other transactions made using your checking account number or automatic bill payment and recurring debit card payments; and for business accounts only, ATM and everyday debit card transactions.  For all other personal accounts, at your request, we may authorize and pay ATM transfers or withdrawals and everyday debit card purchases using your limit.

How does Member Privilege work?

As long as you maintain your account in "good standing" we may approve your overdraft items within your current available Member Privilege limit as a non-contractual courtesy.

For overdraft privilege consideration, your account is in "good standing" if you (1) make sufficient deposits to bring your account to a positive end-of-day balance at least once every 30 calendar days (including the payment of all Credit Union fees and charges); (2) avoid excessive overdrafts suggesting the use of Member Privilege as a continuing line of credit; and (3) there are no legal orders, levies or liens against your account.

Please note that the amount of the overdrafts plus our paid item Overdraft fee of $25 for each item will be deducted from your overdraft limit.  If the item is returned, the returned NSF fee of $25 will be deducted from your account.  No interest will be charged on the overdraft balance.

What does Member Privilege cost?

There is no additional cost associated with this privilege unless you use it.  You will be charged our paid item Overdraft fee of $25 for each overdrawn item created by a traditional paper-based check, a teller withdrawal, an automatic payment (ACH) transaction or a recurring debit card payment.  Also, if you have requested us to do so, we may authorize and cover ATM transfers and everyday debit card transactions.

For example, three paid items in one day will result in $75 in paid item Overdraft fees.  To help you manage your account, the total fees you have paid for items (both paid and returned) during the current month and for the year-to-date will be reflected on your monthly checking statement.

What is my Member Privilege limit?  If I have two checking accounts, can I get Member Privilege on both?

Locate your account type below and make note of the corresponding limit.  If you have multiple accounts for your household or business, you may have a limit on each eligible account.

How quickly must I repay my Member Privilege?

You should make every attempt to bring your account to a positive end-of-day balance as soon as possible, and must do so within 30 calendar days.  If you are not able to do so, you will receive a letter from Community Credit Union informing you that your Member Privilege limit has been suspended and additional items will be returned. Unless we advise you differently or you request this service be removed from your account, your limit will be made available to cover overdrafts again the business day after your account is brought to a positive end-of-day balance.

What are some ways I can access my Member Privilege limit?  Will my limit be reflected in the balance I receive?

The chart below shows the different ways you can access your Member Privilege limit and indicates whether or not this limit will be reflected in the balance provided.

*Member must opt-in to authorize the Credit Union to pay overdrafts on ATM and everyday debit card transactions.  **With the exception of business accounts, Member Privilege will be made available for ATM and everyday debit card transactions upon your request.  Call (207) 783-2096 or visit one of our branches to arrange for your ATM and debit card coverage.

How do I know when I use the overdraft limit?

You will receive an overdraft notice each time items are paid, including fees.  You will need to subtract the total fees when balancing your checkbook.

What if I go beyond my Member Privilege limit?

Overdrafts above and beyond your established Member Privilege limit may result in checks or other items being returned to the payee.  The returned item NSF fee of $25 will be charged per item and assessed to your account.  A NSF notice will be sent to notify you of items paid and/or returned.

How soon can I use my Member Privilege?

If you are a new member, you may be able to use the overdraft service 60 days after your account is opened, assuming your account is in "good standing" as defined above.

What are some ways I can cover overdrafts at Community Credit Union?

The best way to avoid overdrafts and fees is to keep track of your account balance by entering all checks, debit card purchases and ATM withdrawals in your check register, reconcile your checkbook regularly and manage your finances responsibly.  However, if a mistake occurs, Community Credit Union offers additional ways to cover overdrafts in addition to Member Privilege.

What if I do not want Member Privilege on my checking account?

If you would like to have this service removed from your account, please call (207) 783-2096.

Tips on Keeping Your Checkbook Up-to-Date

Sooner or later, anyone having a share draft/checking account learns that an essential part of managing a checkbook is balancing it. This is an easy task if kept up-to-date, but a nightmare if not. For some people, the nightmare compounds itself to the point that they either stop writing checks to allow the account to somehow rectify itself, or they close the account and start over with a new one.

If you've never bounced a check or had a mistake in your checkbook, consider yourself fortunate. Most people who bounce checks believe they have more money in their accounts than they actually do because they've made errors in their checkbook registers. Common problems include addition and subtraction errors and forgotten items, such as ATM withdrawals or fees, debit card transactions, or automatic payments.
Click here to connect to the Checkbook Tips and Worksheet