Preauthorization Holds FAQs

When you use your debit card to conduct a Signature/Credit transaction (i.e. you do not enter your PIN), the merchant sends us an amount, usually your purchase total, for preauthorization. This amount is placed on hold and removed from your available balance. The hold is released after approximately 36 hours or when the transaction clears your account, whichever comes first. The hold helps determine the available balance on your account through internet banking, mobile banking, the automated teller system and at ATMs.

No, preauthorization holds only apply to debit card purchases when you sign your name or do not enter a PIN. For example, a debit card purchase made at a restaurant or with an online merchant would be treated as a signature or credit transaction and would be subject to a preauthorization hold. Debit purchases and ATM withdrawals made using a PIN subtract the funds immediately from your account and are reflected in both your current balance and available balance.

Please note: When using your PIN for fuel, the merchant may still send a preauthorization request.

Your current balance is the amount of money that is actually in your account at any given time. Your current balance reflects transactions that have “posted” to your account, but it does not include transactions that have been authorized and are pending. While it may seem that the current balance is the most up-to-date display of the funds that you can spend from your account, this is not always the case. Your account may have purchases, holds, fees, other charges, or deposits made on your account that have not yet posted and, therefore, will not appear in your current balance.

Your available balance is the amount of money in your account that is available to you without incurring an overdraft fee. Your available balance takes into account holds that have been placed on deposits and pending transactions (such as pending debit card transactions) that the bank has authorized but that have not yet posted to your account.

If your available balance is not sufficient to cover a transaction, we may pay the item and charge you an overdraft fee. An overdraft fee may be charged even though your current balance indicates a positive amount.

Most customers depend on the accuracy of their balances to help them avoid Insufficient Fund or Overdraft fees. Debit card preauthorization holds allow customers to view pending transactions to better determine the funds available for use.

Example assuming the following: (1) you have opted-in to our overdraft services for the payment of overdrafts on everyday debit card transactions and (2) we pay the overdraft. You have $120 in your account. You swipe your card at the card reader on a gasoline pump. Since it is unclear what the final bill will be, the gas station's processing system immediately requests a hold on your account in a specified amount, for example, $80. Our processing system authorizes a temporary hold on your account in the amount of $80, and the gas station's processing system authorizes you to begin pumping gas. You fill your tank and the amount of gasoline you purchased is only $50. Our processing system shows that you have $40 in your account available for other transactions ($120 - $80 = $40).

No. Some merchants, especially gas stations, hotels, car rental companies and restaurants, will preauthorize an amount that is higher or lower than the actual purchase amount.

For example:
Gas stations: Many gas stations preauthorize transactions for amounts ranging from $1 to $100 because they do not know how much gas you will actually pump in advance of your transaction. If they preauthorize $100, we will place a hold for $100, even if your actual transaction is only $50.
Hotels: When using a debit card to make reservations in advance, hotels generally will preauthorize an amount equal to an overnight stay, or more, depending on the length of your stay. This will result in a hold on your account for 36 hours. Then, when you actually arrive, the hotel will place another preauthorization, often larger than the cost of your stay to cover possible incidental expenses.
Car Rental Companies: When renting an automobile, most car rental companies will authorize an amount greater than the actual rental cost to cover any additional expenses.
Restaurants: Most restaurants authorize an amount that is slightly larger than the bill in the event that you include gratuity on your card transaction.

No. When merchants preauthorize an amount that is different from the final transaction total, there is a possibility that the hold and the transaction will not match, and the hold will not release when the transaction posts. If the transaction amount does match the hold, the system will automatically release the hold on your account in 36 hours.

No. Some merchants will not send the final transaction through to us within the 36 hour timeframe of the hold. In these situations, the hold will drop off and funds will appear to be available again. However, the debit transaction still has to post to your account. Unfortunately, we have no control over how quickly merchants process their transactions. The best way to know the amount of funds you have available for use is to carefully track all of your transactions (including checks, automatic payments, deposits and debit card transactions).

You can use your debit card and select “Debit” and enter your PIN. Keep in mind, most PIN-based transactions clear your account immediately.

Online and telephone debit card transactions are generally processed as Signature/Credit transactions because you do not have the option to enter your PIN. These types of transactions will create a preauthorization hold.

You can opt in or out of Reg E (overdraft as it relates to paying one-time debit card transactions), by contacting us by phone, visiting any of branch, or through personal online or mobile banking.

Yes. You can set up automatic transfers from another account or an established line-of-credit if the available balance in your account is insufficient to cover a transaction. A transfer fee will apply to each transfer from savings.* If your transfer account and/or line-of-credit do not have sufficient funds available, the transaction may be covered by the Overdraft Privilege program.

^{*if linked your available balance will include your savings or line of credit funds.}