Huntington Bancshares Inc. is giving customers some extra time to avoid booking overdraft fees.
The Columbus, Ohio, company said Thursday that starting Monday all retail customers will have a day to make a deposit if they overdraw their accounts. Under its "24-Hour Grace" program, consumers will avoid a charge if they put enough money in their accounts by the next business day.
"This is kind of under the umbrella of what we call 'fair-play banking,' " Mary W. Navarro, Huntington's retail and business banking director, said in an interview. "What the consumer said to us is: 'Give me a little time I'll make the deposit.' "
Huntington said it expects this program and other fee reductions to reduce revenue by $24 million next year. That's in addition to an estimated $52 million decline from new regulations restricting overdraft and interchange fees.
