Avoid overdraft fees with these suggestions

Results of a new survey conducted for the American Bankers Association (ABA) show only 17 percent of consumers nationwide paid an overdraft fee within the past 12 months. Here are some tips, courtesy of Hope Bank, to avoid such fees. Use direct deposit for your paycheck. You will have immediate access to your paycheck. Keep track of your balance and transactions and don’t forget about automatic payments. Keep a “pad” or cushion of money in your checking account just to be safe. Link your checking account to a savings account. Ask your bank for an overdraft line of credit that will cover you if you overdraw your account. Just be sure to pay it back as soon as you get the bill. See if your bank offers automatic notification when your balance drops below a certain level. You may be able to get notified by text message or e-mail.