Huntington Bank does not offer a traditional overdraft limit
Huntington Bank does not set a fixed overdraft amount that you can borrow against. Instead, the bank offers overdraft protection — a service that prevents transactions from bouncing when your account balance drops below zero. How much protection you get depends on which type you choose, and the options work differently.
The most common form is linking your Huntington checking account to a savings account or credit line. When a transaction would overdraw your checking account, the bank transfers money from the linked account instead. You are not borrowing a set amount — you are using your own money from another account, or drawing on a credit line you already have. The limit depends on what you have linked and how much credit you have available.
Without overdraft protection, a transaction that exceeds your balance will be declined. Huntington does not automatically cover overdrafts with borrowed money the way some banks do.
Key Takeaways
- Huntington's overdraft protection transfers money from a linked savings account or credit line rather than lending you a set overdraft amount.
- The amount you can transfer depends on your linked account balance or available credit, not on a bank-set overdraft limit.
- You can link your checking account to a savings account, money market account, or Huntington credit line for overdraft protection.
- Each transfer from a linked account may carry a fee, so overdraft protection is meant for occasional use, not regular borrowing.
- You can turn overdraft protection on or off through your online banking or by calling Huntington customer service.
How overdraft protection works at Huntington
When you set up overdraft protection, you choose a linked account — usually a savings account at Huntington, or a Huntington credit line. If a debit card transaction, check, or automatic payment would overdraw your checking account, the bank automatically transfers enough money from the linked account to cover it.
The transfer happens when ready, so the transaction goes through instead of being declined. You then owe that money back to the linked account (if it was a transfer from savings) or you carry a balance on the credit line (if it was a credit line transfer). Huntington charges a fee for each transfer — the amount varies and you should confirm the current fee with the bank, as fees change.
If you do not have overdraft protection set up, or if your linked account has no money and your credit line has no available balance, the transaction will be declined. You will not incur an overdraft fee, but the transaction fails.
Types of accounts you can link for overdraft protection
Huntington lets you link a savings account, money market account, or credit line to your checking account for overdraft protection. A savings account is the simplest option — the bank transfers your own money when needed. This works only if you keep money in savings; if your savings account is empty, there is nothing to transfer.
A money market account works the same way as a savings account but typically earns a higher interest rate. You can link it the same way through online banking.
A Huntington credit line (sometimes called a personal line of credit) is borrowed money, not your own. When the bank transfers from a credit line to cover an overdraft, you are borrowing at the credit line's interest rate. You then repay what you borrowed. This option gives you more cushion if your savings are low, but it costs more because you pay interest on the borrowed amount.
Fees and costs of overdraft protection
Each time Huntington transfers money from a linked account to cover an overdraft, you pay a transfer fee. The fee applies whether you transfer from savings or from a credit line. You should contact Huntington directly or check your account agreement to learn the current fee amount, as it may vary by account type.
If you use a credit line for overdraft protection, you also pay interest on the borrowed amount. The interest rate depends on your credit line terms. This makes credit line transfers more expensive than transfers from savings, so most people use a savings account link if they have one.
Overdraft protection is designed for occasional use — a few times a year when you miscalculate your balance or an unexpected expense hits. If you find yourself using it regularly, it signals that your income and expenses are not aligned, and the fees will add up quickly.
How to set up or change overdraft protection
You can set up overdraft protection through Huntington's online banking portal or by calling customer service. Log into your account, look for settings related to overdraft protection or linked accounts, and follow the prompts to choose which account to link. The process usually takes a few minutes.
If you already have overdraft protection but want to change which account is linked, you can update it the same way. You can also turn overdraft protection off entirely if you prefer to have transactions declined rather than automatically transferred.
When you set up or change overdraft protection, Huntington will confirm the linked account and show you the fee structure. Make sure you understand the fee before confirming, because you will be charged each time a transfer occurs.
What happens if you overdraft without protection
If you do not have overdraft protection set up, or if your linked account is empty and your credit line has no available balance, a transaction that exceeds your checking account balance will be declined. Your debit card will be rejected at the register, or an automatic payment will fail to process.
A declined transaction is inconvenient but does not cost you a fee. However, if a check you wrote bounces or an automatic bill payment fails, the merchant or creditor may charge you a returned-check fee or late fee. Those fees come from them, not from Huntington, but they can add up if multiple payments fail.
If you frequently run low on funds, overdraft protection can prevent the embarrassment and cost of declined transactions. But it only works if you have money in a linked savings account or available credit on a linked credit line.
Alternatives to overdraft protection
If overdraft protection does not fit your situation, you have other options. The simplest is to keep a small buffer in your checking account — money you do not spend, so your balance never actually hits zero. This requires discipline but costs nothing.
You can also set up account alerts through Huntington's online banking. Most banks let you receive a text or email when your balance drops below a certain amount. This gives you a warning to transfer money in before a transaction overdrafts your account.
If you need short-term borrowing beyond what overdraft protection offers, a personal loan or credit line through Huntington may be a better fit. These give you a lump sum upfront and a set repayment schedule, rather than charging a fee each time you transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I overdraft my Huntington account without setting up protection?
No. Without overdraft protection, transactions that exceed your balance will be declined. Huntington does not automatically cover overdrafts with borrowed money. You must link a savings account or credit line to have overdraft protection.
What is the maximum I can overdraft if I link a savings account?
There is no set maximum. You can transfer up to whatever balance you have in the linked savings account. If your savings account has $500, you can transfer up to $500 to cover overdrafts. Once that $500 is transferred, you cannot transfer more unless you deposit additional money into savings.
Do I pay interest on overdraft transfers from my savings account?
No. Transferring from savings is moving your own money, so you pay only the transfer fee, not interest. Interest applies only if you link a credit line, because that is borrowed money.
Can I use overdraft protection for ATM withdrawals?
Overdraft protection typically covers debit card purchases and automatic payments, but ATM withdrawals often work differently. Contact Huntington to confirm whether overdraft protection covers ATM withdrawals on your specific account type.
How do I turn off overdraft protection?
Log into your Huntington online banking account, find the overdraft protection or linked accounts section, and select the option to disable it. You can also call Huntington customer service and ask them to remove the linked account. Once disabled, transactions that exceed your balance will be declined instead of transferred.