lossary of banking terminology

Account balance

The amount of money in an account at the start of the business day, including all deposits and withdrawals posted the previous night, whether or not the funds have been collected. See "collected balance."

Account statement

A printed or online statement of all the funds paid out by or paid into your account during a statement cycle.

Active account

A open bank account in which transactions can be made; usually an account that has had activity within the last 3 years.

Annual percentage yield (APY)

The total amount of interest paid by the bank on your deposit account (checking, savings, CDs, IRAs) during the year. Includes both interest paid on the amount held in the account, as well as compounded interest for the year.

Automated Clearing House (ACH)

A nationwide funds transfer network that enables participating financial institutions to electronically credit, debit and settle entries to bank accounts.

Automatic funds transfer

An arrangement that automatically moves funds from your account to another on a date you choose; for example, every payday.

Automatic payment

An arrangement that automatically deducts funds from your account (usually a checking account) on the day you choose in order to pay a recurring bill (such as car, insurance, mortgage payments, etc.)

Available balance

The amount of money in your account that is available for immediate use.

Average daily balance

The sum of all the daily account balances during an accounting period (usually a monthly statement cycle) divided by the number of days in the same period. May be used to determine whether a service charge applies or whether your account qualifies for special services or discounts. See “minimum daily balance.”

Banking center-

A Bank of America branch office. There are more than 5,700 Bank of America banking center locations.

Bill Pay

An optional service from Bank of America that lets you pay your bills online.

Bounced check

A check returned that is returned to the depositor because there are not sufficient funds to pay the amount of the check.

Canceled check

A check that has been paid. A canceled check is usually acceptable as legal proof of payment.

Cashed Item Returned Fee

(see Deposited Item Returned Fee)

Cashier’s check

A check issued by a bank and paid from its funds. A cashier's check will not usually bounce because the amount it is written for is paid to the bank when it is issued, and the bank then assumes the obligation.

Certificate of Deposit (CD)

A time deposit that is payable at the end of a specified amount of time or "term." CDs generally pay a fixed rate of interest and offer a higher interest rate than other types of deposit accounts. Terms can range from 7 days to 10 years. CDs are insured by the FDIC up to applicable limits. If early withdrawal from the CD prior to the end of the term is permitted, a penalty is usually assessed. See "Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation."

Certified check

A check for which the bank guarantees payment.

Checking account

A type of deposit account that enables customers to deposit funds and withdraw available funds on demand, typically by writing a check or using a debit card. These accounts are sometimes interest-bearing.

Check card

See “Debit Card.”

Check image

A service that provides images of canceled checks. Each account statement includes images of checks (up to 10 per page) that posted to the account during the statement cycle. You can view and print copies of the front and back of checks posted within the last 12 months by signing on to Online Banking. You can also request copies of checks by visiting your nearest Bank of America banking center, or by calling the customer service number on your statement.

Check safekeeping

A service where the bank keeps a copy or digital image of all checks written against your account for 7 years instead of returning them with the account statement. You can view photocopies of canceled checks posted within the last 12 months by signing in to Online Banking or visiting your nearest Bank of America banking center.

Collected balance

The balance in a deposit account, not including items that have not yet been paid, or collected. See “Account balance.”

Combined balance

The total funds you have in all of your linked accounts, such as savings, checking and CDs. For somechecking accounts, the combined balance determines whether the monthly fee can be avoided.

Compound interest

Interest that is calculated on both the accumulated interest and the principal balance in the account. The more frequently interest is compounded, the higher the effective yield.

Credit

The increase in a deposit account balance that occurs when a deposit is made to the account. See also “debit.”

Credit card

A plastic card issued to an individual that allows that person to use credit to purchase goods and services. A credit limit is established for each card holder.

Custodial account

An account created for the benefit of a minor (a person under the age of 18) with an adult as the account’s custodian.

Debit

A decrease in a deposit account’s balance, such as occurs when a check posted to the account. See also “credit.”

Debit card

A plastic card that deducts money directly from the designated Bank of America checking account to pay for goods or services. It can be used anywhere Visa^® or MasterCard^® debit cards are accepted and no interest is charged. A debit card can also be used at ATMs to withdraw cash.

Deposit

Money added into a customer’s bank account.

Deposited Item Returned Fee or Cashed Item Returned Fee

A fee we charge each time a check or other item that we either cashed for you or accepted for deposit to your account is returned to us unpaid.

Direct deposit

A service that automatically transfers recurring deposits into your checking, savings or money market account. Deposits can include salary, pension, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, or other regular monthly income.

Disclosure

Information pertaining to an account’s services, fees and regulatory requirements.

Electronic funds transfer (EFT)

Any transfer of funds initiated by electronic means from an electronic terminal, telephone, computer, ATM or magnetic tape.

Emergency cash

A service provided by Visa to Bank of America personal debit card customers. In the case of emergency (theft, etc.) replacement cash can be delivered to you directly or to a convenient location anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Extended Overdrawn Balance Charge (EOBC)

If your account has a negative balance for 5 or more consecutive business days, you will receive an additional Extended Overdrawn Balance Charge of $35 on the sixth day. Unless the transaction that caused the Overdraft is an everyday nonrecurring debit transaction or an ATM transaction for which you did not agree to have your account overdrawn. This fee is in addition to any applicable fees for overdraft items, insufficient funds and returned items.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

The FDIC is an independent agency of the United States government that protects people who have funds on deposit with FDIC-insured banks and savings associations against the loss of their insured deposits if their bank or savings association fails. FDIC insurance is backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government.
The FDIC guarantees deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market savings and CDs) up to applicable limits, which is $250,000 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category.

Float

The time between the date when a check is deposited to an account and the date the funds become available.

Inactive account

A bank account in which there have not been any transactions for an extended period of time. In some cases, when there has been no activity in the account within a period specified by state law (generally at least 3 years), the law requires the bank to turn the account over to the state as unclaimed property.

Interest-bearing account

An account that earns interest.

Interest rate

The percentage of interest paid on an interest-bearing account, such as savings, CDs and some checking accounts; also, the percentage charged on a loan or line of credit. Different types of accounts and loans pay or charge different rates of interest. See”original interest rate.”

IRA

An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is an account that provides either a tax-deferred or tax-free way for you to save for retirement. There are many different types of IRAs but Roth, Traditional and Rollover IRAs are the most common. Within an IRA, some people invest in mutual funds or stocks, while others may choose bank products such as CDs and money market savings. Each IRA has certain eligibility requirements and unique features.

Joint account

An account owned by two or more people.

Linked account

Any account linked to another account at the same financial institution so that funds can be transferred electronically between accounts. In some cases, the combined balance of all linked accounts may determine whether monthly service and other fees are applied to the account.

Maturity date

The date that a CD term ends, the bank stops paying the agreed-upon interest and you can choose to take the money deposited or renew the term.

Minimum daily balance

The lowest end-of-day balance in an account during a statement cycle; a certain minimum daily balance is often required with interest-bearing accounts to avoid a service charge or qualify for special services. See “average daily balance.”

Money market account

A savings account that generally earns higher rates than regular savings accounts and limits you to no more than a total of six automatic or preauthorized transfers, telephone transfers or payment from a savings account each monthly statement cycle. Three of the six transfers may be made by debit card purchase, check or similar order.

Money order

A financial instrument, issued by a bank or other institution, allowing the individual named on the order to receive a specified amount of cash on demand. Often used by people who do not have checking accounts.

Monthly fee

The fee charged to maintain a particular account, such as a checking account. Bank of America offers many options to help avoid the maintenance fees on checking and savings accounts.

Non-bank ATM

An ATM or cash machine that provides ATM cardholders with access to their accounts, but is owned and operated by an independent bank or financial institution. Fees generally apply to cash withdrawals at non-bank ATMs and they don’t generally accept deposits.

Online Banking

A service that allows an account holder to obtain account information and manage certain banking transactions via personal computer or mobile device.

0riginal interest rate

Rate assigned when a CD account is opened. The original interest rate is listed on your CD account receipt and statement.

Overdraft

An overdraft occurs when a bank makes a payment that has been requested (such as a check), even though there are not enough funds available in the account cover it. This type of payment is known as an “overdraft” and the account is said to have been “overdrawn.” See also “Overdraft protection.”

Overdraft Item and NSF: Returned Item

An Overdraft Item Fee is charged when you write a check or make a withdrawal for an amount that is more than the balance in your checking or savings account and the bank pays the overdraft item.

Overdraft protection

Overdraft Protection links your Bank of America checking account to another Bank of America account-such as savings, credit card, second checking account, or line of credit-and automatically transfers available funds to cover purchases, prevent returned checks and declined items when you don't have enough money in your checking account. You can apply for Overdraft Protection by visiting a banking center or calling us at 1.800.432.1000 between Monday-Friday 7a.m.-10 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 8a.m.-5 p.m. ET.

Overdraft Protection Transfer Fee

An Overdraft Protection Transfer fee occurs whenever funds must be provided to cover a transaction that overdraws your checking account. When a debit clears that exceeds the funds available in your account, money will be transferred from the linked Overdraft Protection account.

Overdraft Settings

The Overdraft Setting for your checking account determines how the bank handles your transactions when you don’t have enough money in your checking account or your linked Overdraft Protection account at the time of the transaction. We pay overdrafts at our discretion based on factors such as the purchase or withdrawal amount and your account history, which means we don’t guarantee that we’ll always authorize and pay any type of transaction. We typically don’t pay overdrafts if your account isn’t in good standing or you aren’t making regular deposits. We reserve the right to require you to pay overdrafts immediately.

Personal identification number (PIN)

The unique number you must use to access your account at an ATM or make a purchase with a debit card. Your ATM number should always be kept confidential.

Rate

See “interest rate.”

Opt-Up rate

New interest rate that applies after taking advantage of a CD’s Opt-Up feature. You may “opt-up” one time, 6 months after you open your CD account.

Regulation E

Regulation E carries out the purposes of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, which establishes the basic rights, liabilities, and responsibilities of consumers who use electronic fund transfer services and of financial institutions that offer these services. The primary objective of the act and Regulation E is the protection of individual consumers engaging in electronic fund transfers.

Electronic fund transfer systems include automated teller machine transfers, telephone bill-payment services, point-of-sale (POS) terminal transfers in stores, and preauthorized transfers from or to a consumer’s account (such as direct deposit and social security payments). The term “electronic fund transfer” (EFT) generally refers to a transaction initiated through an electronic terminal, telephone, computer, or magnetic tape that instructs a financial institution either to credit or to debit a consumer’s asset account.

Returned item

When you do not have enough available funds in your account to cover an item, and we decline to pay and return the item unpaid, we will charge a $35 NSF:Returned Item fee for each returned item. View your account agreement for additional information.

Savings account

A deposit account which pays interest, but does not allow funds to be withdrawn by writing a check.

Simple interest

The interest calculated only on the principal funds that have been deposited in the account; no interest is earned on interest that has already been earned on the principal.

Specialty debit card

Specialty debit cards have all of the same benefits as the standard Bank of America debit card. Bank of America has almost 200 specialty debit card designs.

Standard Setting

The Standard Overdraft Setting is automatically applied to new consumer accounts.

With the Standard Setting:

ATM withdrawals and everyday, non-recurring debit card transactions (individual debit card purchases such as at the grocery store or a one-time online purchase), will only be authorized when we determine you have enough available funds in your account or in your linked Overdraft Protection account at the time of the transaction. Otherwise, we typically decline the transaction and you aren't charged an Overdraft Item fee.

For other types of transactions-like checks, Bill Pay and other electronic payments, as well as recurring debit card payments-we may pay transactions when you don't have enough available funds in your checking account or linked Overdraft Protection account at the time of the transaction.

If we pay a transaction that's larger than your Available Balance and it overdraws your account, this typically results in a $35 charge for each overdraft item, unless you deposit enough available funds that day to cover the overdraft.

If we return the item unpaid, this typically results in a $35 NSF: Returned Item fee.

Stop payment

A request that the bank not pay a check or payment you have written or authorized. Stop-payment orders are generally placed for checks that have been lost or stolen, or in situations where a purchase is disputed. Stop payment orders generally expire after 6 months and a fee is usually charged for this service.

Time deposit or CD

An agreement to deposit a stated amount in the bank for a fixed length of time during which a fixed rate of interest will be paid. Penalties are assessed if the funds are withdrawn before the end of the agreed-upon period.

Transaction limitations

Refers to a Federal Reserve Board regulation that limits certain types of withdrawals and/or transfers from savings and money market deposit accounts. No more than 6 preauthorized or automatic transfers, or telephone/PC transfers (including bill payments) may be made in the account each month; no more than 3 of the 6 limited transfers may be made using a check or debit card. An unlimited number of withdrawals may be made at ATMs and teller windows.

Transfer

The movement of funds from one account to another.

Travelers cheque/travelers check

Check issued by a financial institution which functions as cash but is protected against loss or theft. Useful when traveling.

Uncollected funds

Refers to items deposited in an account that have not yet been collected (paid) by the bank on which they were drawn.

Variable rate

An interest rate that may fluctuate (adjust) during the term of a loan, line of credit, or deposit account. Rates may adjust due to changes in an index rate (such as the prime rate); in some situations, the bank may set its own rate.

Wire transfer

An electronic payment service for transferring funds (for example, through the Federal Reserve Wire Network or the Clearing House Interbank Payments System).

Withdrawal

The removal of funds from an account.

Zero Liability Protection*

The guarantee Bank of America makes to its credit and debit cardholders: if your card is lost or stolen, and you report the loss promptly, you may not be responsible for fraudulent purchases made with your card. There is no charge for the Zero Liability Protection program and it is automatically available on all Bank of America consumer credit cards, debit cards, and Home Equity line of credit access cards.

* Claims may only be filed against posted and settled transactions subject to dollar limits and subsequent verification, including providing all requested information supporting fraudulent use claim. For debit card transactions, claims must be reported within 60 days of the statement.