“Banks call it a service,” the president said. “I call it exploitation.”

The Biden administration unveiled a new rule Wednesday aimed at slashing bank overdraft fees to as low as $3, a move the president said would help end abusive practices by financial institutions.

Under the proposal, banks could continue to charge fees when a customer’s account falls below zero, but either at a price in line with the bank’s actual costs to administer the overdraft or at an established benchmark created by the new rule.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed potential fees of $3, $6, $7 or $14 and is seeking feedback from banks and the public on what would be appropriate. Current overdraft fees often push $30 or more, taking a significant bite out of low-income accounts.

  • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Biden: Wants to do something good for a lot of people

    It’s a bandaid on a massive headwound…

    Then sending you home while still concussed and bleeding everywhere.

    Sure the band aid is better than nothing, but if people are having multiple overdrafts a month, then their real problem isn’t how much an overdraft fee is.

    Say someone has 4 a month, that’s a lot, and I doubt many get that consistently.

    Going from $33 to $3 saves 120/month.

    It’s not nothing, but that person is still negative on their bank account. Probably carrying a shit ton of credit card debt. Speaking of, doing something about interest on predatory lending (including credit cards) would be much more effective, but hurt the rich and banks even more

    The main issue is a lot of people do to have enough to live.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      This is a huge fucking problem and this will be a huge help. Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

      Households frequently incurring overdraft and NSF fees are more likely to struggle to meet their financial obligations: Among households that frequently incurred overdraft/NSF fees, 81% reported difficulty paying a bill at least once in the past year. This drops to 25% for households that were not charged a fee.

      Low-income households are hit the hardest Overdraft and NSF fees: While just 10% of households with over $175,000 in income were charged an overdraft or an NSF fee in the previous year, the share is three times higher (34%) among households making less than $65,000.

      https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/cfpb-issues-report-showing-many-americans-are-surprised-by-overdraft-fees/

      Helping poor people is always a good thing.

      • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        And someone who won’t is better.

        I’m not denying that.

        But why would you pick someone to help you with zero medical knowledge just because he wont keep bashing?

        Why wouldn’t you want a doctor or even just a school nurse instead?