Just because you use a model form when asking members if they want to opt-in to overdraft protections, don’t assume that your credit union is safe from being sued over the adequacy of these disclosures. That is my takeaway from the latest case I have seen. It joins a growing body of litigation in which members are being allowed to sue credit unions for providing inadequate account balance disclosures which lead to unnecessary overdraft fees.

First some background, with apologies to those of you who already know most of this. There are two basic methods for calculating account balances: the actual or ledger balance method refers to all money currently in a member’s account. In contrast, the available balance method refers only to those funds actually available for use by the member. A second key point to keep in mind is that 12 CFR 1005.17 stipulates that opt-in disclosures for overdraft protections shall be “substantially similar” to model form A9. My guess is, this is the form your credit union uses. The Electronic Funds Transfer Act shields credit unions from liability for any failure to make disclosures improper form provided that the model form is used.

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