Civista Bank Prevails in Checking Account Overdraft Fees Dispute

A midwestern bank’s checking account agreement properly warns customers that they may have to pay fees if they have enough money in their account when a “hold” is placed for a pending transaction but not when it clears, a divided Ohio appeals court ruled Friday.

Agreements for consumers drafted by Civista Bank, which convinced the Ohio Court of Appeals, Sixth District not to revive a proposed class action over overdraft fees, unambiguously warns that the fees may be assessed if there’s not enough money in a checking account when a transaction is completed, the court said in a 2-1 opinion ...