USBank: Prevent Over Drafting Charges with New Alerts
by FrosT

Introduction
Recently I was over drafting on an account due to insufficient funds. Well I was quite mad that a week later USBank finally sent me a letter stating this and was upset that they could not email. Before I went on a wild rampage on the phone with a customer service representative I decided to check USBank's website to make sure this option was not available.

New Alert Feature to USBank Online Banking
What I found was that sometime between this year and last year USBank added a great feature, without notifying you of this feature of course, that you can now get an email and even a text message upto 3 different addresses for a Negative Balance, when your Account's balance reaches a certain amount or when items have been posted or withdrawn. This new alert feature from USBank is a great and appreciate feature by me.

The Negative Balance
How USBank works is if you over draft from an account you are charged $31, plus $7 for every day after that which your USBank account is under $1. If not taken care of in 14 days you are charged another $31 fee etc. USBank does inform you via a postcard within 3-4 business days, but buy that time you are already out money and chances are you probably made more than one purchase recently. With the new feature you can prevent banks getting a ton of money from you! Here is how to set up the alert.

USBank Alert Setup
Start off login to USBank Internet Banking. Once you are in the Internet banking you should see a menu on the left hand side with a Text Link called "Alerts." When you over over this link it should take you to Security or Account. Click on Account.

Once you are here select and account to setup the alert on. Yes you can even set one up on your USBank credit cards. After you select the account, the next step is to choose the type of alert. Choose your alert and follow the instructions, enter your EMail or phone number for text messages. Once done click Save and you have succesfully helped prevent yourself from being screwed out of a lot of money by USBank.

Ending Notes
I remember seeing a TV Story on this exact topic, how banks do not offer sufficient means of notifying you when you have over drafted on your account because they like that money. Well maybe USBank listend to that article and decided they needed to try and help their customers keep their money and not lose it. Either way I am very pleased with this new Alert feature that USBank so kindly offered me.