Exception Fees - Current

This Fact Sheet provides updated information including comparative tables on exception fees for regular transaction accounts, for transaction accounts for eligible low-income earners and concession card holders and for credit card accounts. It forms part of the ongoing industry response and follows an earlier Fact Sheet, published in August 2007, that identified low-fee accounts and gave tips on how to avoid exception fees.

Exception fees are disclosed in the account terms and conditions and may be charged when:

From 2006 to 2008, Australian banks’ exception fees have been undergoing a sea-change. The emerging trend is toward a decline in such fees.

Individual banks have responded to customer feedback on exception fees by providing tools and services to help customers avoid these fees.
 
Banks have also responded to customer needs by publishing better information about their own particular policies.

Exception fees are generally avoidable and there are ways you can help minimise their occurrence. Each bank has its own approach, which means genuine choice for the consumer.

Some banks have facilities available such as the capacity to switch off the capacity to exceed your credit card limit on electronically authorised purchases and cash advances, or  SMS alerts for both successful and missed transactions or a ‘sweeps’ facility to automatically transfer funds from another account when a direct debit is presented which may overdraw an account. Customers can contact their bank to see if these services are available.

The boxes below survey various bank approaches.

Further information is available at each bank’s website 

Bank	Tools
Adelaide Bank	Adelaide Bank approach Adelaide Bank advises customers that it understands it can sometimes be easy to lose track of your account balances or miss a payment. On these occasions it is possible that you may incur Exception Fees. The Bank always welcomes the opportunity to talk with you about your situation and look at ways to avoid incurring these fees in future.   Find out more about your fees and charges. The more you know about the fees and charges that apply to your account, the better prepared you can be to minimise them. Read the ‘How to Avoid Getting Stung’ brochure.   By following Adelaide Bank’s suggested straightforward tips you’ll reduce the amount of fees charged to your accounts.   How to reduce fees paid on Adelaide Bank accounts   The Bank provides the following tips:           manage your transactions Instead of withdrawing small amounts, try to plan your cash requirements in advance to make less frequent withdrawals           check your account balance before you make a withdrawal or write a cheque – and keep a record of your regular payments           Use the internet and phone banking facilities provided by Adelaide Bank to keep track of your account balances           consolidate your accounts; if you have more than one account with Adelaide Bank or another financial institution, you may be able to save time and money by consolidating your accounts To find out more: http://www.adelaidebank.com.au//fees_and_charges/index.html
ANZ	Transaction Account without Exception fees From 15 September 2008, a new transaction account will be available which is free of exception fees, extending ANZ’s commitment to convenient, simple and responsible banking. ANZ Access Limited is an account which limits customers’ ability to overdraw their account and is free of exception fees. For a monthly service fee of $6, ANZ Access Limited customers will be able to access unlimited ANZ transactions through branches, EFTPOS, ANZ ATMs and Internet banking.   August 2007 ANZ announcement In August 2007 ANZ announced two Exception Fee policies which outline a series of commitments in relation to disclosure, simplicity, assistance and fairness of exception fees. These include commitments to:   1.      Full disclosure - ensure the disclosure of exception fees remains clear, simple and accessible. 2.      Keep fees simple by charging a single flat amount of $35 for all exception fees (except where a reduced fee of $10 applies for customers on a concessional account). 3.      Helping customers to avoid these fees – for example by allowing customers to switch off the ability to overdraw their transaction account or exceed their credit card limit on electronically authorised purchases and cash transactions, and by providing regular advice to customers who incur these fees on ways they can avoid them. 4.      Applying exception fees fairly – including not charging a customer for the first exception fee they incur if they contact ANZ to discuss the fee and not charging more than one credit card overlimit fee in any one monthly statement cycle.   ANZ’s Exception Fee policy for transaction accounts is available at http://www.anz.com/Documents/AU/Aboutanz/270807ExceptionTransAcc.pdf and for credit cards at http://www.anz.com/Documents/AU/Aboutanz/270807ExceptionFeesCC.pdf      How to avoid ANZ exception fees   ANZ says first step to avoiding these fees is to understand what they are and how they work. Information on these fees is provided to you when you open your ANZ account. One of the simplest ways is for you to regularly check your account balance via ATMs, ANZ Phone and Internet Banking to ensure there are sufficient funds available to cover any transactions. Other more specific ways to help you avoid these fees include: •    allow time for cheque and ATM deposits to clear before you attempt to draw on these funds. The Bank suggests you allow 3 to 5 business days •    check when your periodical payments are due and reschedule them if necessary Exception fees can be managed by using an ANZ Assured $500 safety net—ANZ Assured provides you with a $500 overdraft limit on your Access Advantage, Access Select or ANZ One account for $5 per month plus interest on the amount of credit. When using an ANZ credit card, overlimit fees can be avoided by regularly checking your account balance via ATMs, ANZ Telephone and Internet Banking to ensure there is sufficient credit available to cover any transaction. You can also ask ANZ to switch off the ability to exceed your credit card limit on electronically authorised purchases and cash transactions. Alternatively, you can examine your individual circumstances to determine whether a higher credit limit would be more appropriate for your circumstances, subject to meeting ANZ’s normal credit approval criteria. To avoid late payment fees you should ensure that you pay at least your minimum monthly payment by the due date. To assist with this you may want to consider noting when the payment is due in your diary, or set a reminder for yourself. Alternatively, you can consider ANZ’s CardPay Direct which allows you to arrange to have your credit card payment made automatically from a nominated Australian bank account.   To find out more: http://www.anz.com/Documents/AU/feecharge/ExceptionFeeWebpage.pdf
Bank of Queensland	BoQ Recent Review of Terms and Conditions relating to exception Fees Bank of Queensland has reviewed the terms and conditions that govern its products, and in particular how these relate to exception fees. The Bank is committed to educating consumers through its website and in branch about these fees and how they can be avoided.  The Bank will also continue to investigate alternatives for customers to avoid paying these types of fees.   Bank of Queensland discloses a variety of fees and charges in its Terms and Conditions books.  These terms and conditions govern how your account is operated by the Bank.    How to avoid BOQ transaction fees All of these fees can be avoided by doing a few simple things:           regularly check your account balance.; you can do this for free in a Bank of Queensland branch, using a BOQ ATM, through Internet Banking, through an SMS when using Internet Banking, through EasyPhone Banking, or on your regular statement           keep a record of when your regular payments are due to come out of your account (and make sure you have sufficient balance to cover the amount)           check your account balance before you write out a cheque and ask the recipient of the cheque to contact you when they present the cheque so you can be sure there will be sufficient balance in your account           set up regular payments yourself through Internet Banking. You can then manage them yourself and amend the amount to be transferred or cancel the payment if needed etc           set up a Credit Card Saver plan to pay your balance on time   To find out more: http://www.boq.com.au/aboutus_media_20070629.htm
BankSA	BankSA June 2007 review Since May 2007, BankSA has conducted a comprehensive review of the content and positioning of its ‘How to minimise fees’ education section on the Bank’s website, including home page prominence and clear explanation of fees and various ways customers can avoid them.   BankSA advises that exception fees are avoidable and fully disclosed upfront as part of the Bank’s terms and conditions.   How to avoid BankSA exception fees BankSA has a number of ways for you to monitor the state of your accounts and ensure you avoid these types of fees. The Bank makes it easy to monitor your account through:             Internet and Phone banking           BankSA ATM balance enquiries           SMS and email alerts           Enquiring at any BankSA branch   Other tips to avoid exception fees are listed on the Bank’s website.   Real-time SMS and email alerts on all your accounts are an efficient way for you to receive updates on your accounts, providing more control over your finances and a greater sense of security.   Customers can request either SMS or email:             Daily Balance Alerts - get the available balance on your nominated deposit account at the beginning of every day           Withdrawal Alerts - enjoy peace of mind knowing your direct debits or loan repayments have been made           Deposit Alerts - keep track of your salary payment or other direct credits           High Balance Alerts - don’t max out that credit card - be informed when your balance reaches a pre-determined limit           Low Balance Alerts - avoid overdrawing your account - receive alerts when your balance reaches a pre-determined limit           Authorisation Alerts - keep a step ahead of fraudsters - be notified of each new credit or debit card authorisation.           Dishonour Alerts-protect your financial reputation-receive an alert when your account is overdrawn due to a cheque presentation, direct debit or periodical payment.   You can register for SMS and email alerts via Internet banking. Email alerts are free, while SMS alerts are charged at $0.25 per SMS. For Dishonour Alerts there is a service cost of $2 a month per account and $0.25c an alert. If a customer has a Complete Freedom account they will receive 10 free SMS alerts per month.   You can also avoid late payment fees by arranging for an Automatic Payment Plan on your credit card account. This ensures that at least the minimum monthly amount due is paid. To manage your accounts and ensure you know exactly when payments are due utilise the scheduled payments function within internet banking for BPAY® and payee transfers. You can even set up an email alert to let you know when your transaction has been successfully processed. These transactions are quick and easy to set up. Unlike Periodic Payments, scheduled payments cannot overdraw your account and therefore remove the risk of incurring a dishonour or honour fee.   To find out more:   http://www.banksa.com.au/accounts/fees/minimise.asp?orc=personal&WT.ac=Front-how_to_minimise_fees-July07 http://www.banksa.com.au/media_centre/news/news_archive.asp?id=246
BankWest	BankWest’s approach BankWest advises that it is committed to ensuring that customers know exactly what its fees are, why it charges them and how they can be minimised or even avoided. The Bank advises that in most cases these charges can be easily avoided by careful management of your finances. The importance of a regular review of your account balances before making payments cannot be understated. In particular, the Bank recommends that you ensure all recent deposits into your account have cleared before payments are drawn against them. This can vary according to the type of deposit being made, so if in doubt please check your account. The Bank advises customers to take a look at the suggestions on its website that identify some areas where you can minimise or avoid fees all together.   How to avoid BankWest transaction fees The best way to avoid paying exception fees is to manage your accounts carefully, be aware of direct debit dates and make sure you always make payments on time.   Other simple tips the Bank suggests to help you stay on track are:           keep a small balance in your account to help cover any unexpected withdrawals           know your account and read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS)   Keeping track of transactions you have made is an important part of avoiding exception fees. This can be done by retaining receipts or by utilizing the Mini Statement function available at BankWest ATMS.   The Bank suggests setting up a regular payment from your account to your credit card to ensure minimum payments are made on time.   To find out more:   http://www.bankwest.com.au/Fees/How_to_avoid_Bank_Fees/index.aspx   In addition, BankWest also provides point of sale leaflets and makes use of summary boxes on customer statements which provide information on fees.
Bendigo Bank	Bendigo Bank’s approach The Bank advises customers that it understands it can sometimes be easy to lose track of your account balances or miss a payment. On these occasions it is possible that you may incur one of the following Exception Fees. The Bank always welcomes the opportunity to talk with you about your situation and look at ways to avoid incurring these fees in future.   Find out more about your fees and charges. The more you know about the fees and charges that apply to your account, the better prepared you can be to minimise them. Read the ‘Bendigo Fees Charges and Transaction Account Rebates’ brochure.   By following the Bank’s suggested straightforward tips you’ll reduce the amount of fees charged to your accounts.   How to avoid Bendigo transaction fees The Bank provides the following tips:           manage your transactions Instead of withdrawing small amounts, try to plan your cash requirements in advance to make less frequent withdrawals           check your account balance before you make a withdrawal or write a cheque – and keep a record of your regular payments           sign-up for email alerts           consolidate your accounts; if you have more than one account with the Bendigo or another financial institution, you may be able to save time and money by consolidating your accounts   Bendigo suggests that to avoid overdrawing your account, sign up for a Bendigo ‘low balance alert’ and the Bank will notify you by email when your account balance drops below a pre-set level.   Bendigo Transaction Account Rebates can help you cut the cost of banking. If you hold an eligible account we’ll provide a monthly allowance to help you offset your fees. Extra savings for shareholders apply: if you have more than 500 fully paid Bendigo Bank shares you’ll receive an additional allocation of Transaction Account Rebates.   To find out more:   http://www.bendigobank.com.au/public/terms/fees_and_charges.asp
Citibank	Citibank recent announcement In June 2007 Citibank abolished the $15 inward dishonour fee across all its deposit and mortgage products.   Citibank’s approach Citibank has a specific section on its home website entitled "Want to avoid bank fees?".   The Bank advises that we all need and use financial products - everything from everyday bank accounts to credit cards. And with some smart strategies it's possible to trim the fees you pay. Many regular account fees can be kept to a minimum simply by shopping around and finding the account that best suits your style of banking.   However you may also be charged exception fees. These sorts of fees can be avoided altogether simply by knowing the types of events that could trigger an exception fee.   Take a look through the terms and conditions applicable to the financial products you use for a complete picture of the types of exception fees involved, and make use of the Bank’s advice, for example at:   Cutting the cost of everyday accounts: http://www.citigroup.com.au/usecreditwisely/uw-Cutting_the_cost_of_everyday_accounts.html   Cutting the cost of credit cards: http://www.citigroup.com.au/usecreditwisely/uw-Cutting_the_cost_of_credit_cards.html   Cutting the cost of lines of credit: http://www.citigroup.com.au/usecreditwisely/uw-Cutting_the_cost_of_lines_of_credit.html This information is part of Citibank’s Use Credit Wisely campaign and extends not only to reducing bank fees but also managing your debt, making your budget work and money saving ideas."   To find out more: http://www.citibank.com.au
Commonwealth Bank	How to avoid Commonwealth Bank exception fees Commonwealth Bank no longer charge honour fees on Pensioner Security accounts, effective November 2007. Customers holding an eligible Commonwealth of Australia concession card can open a Streamline Basic account which is exempt from exception fees. Commonwealth Bank offers tips on how to avoid exception fees on its website. The best way to avoid these types of fees is to ensure you have sufficient funds in your account to operate within approved limits. To assist in achieving this the Commonwealth Bank recommends you:             check your account balance via a Commonwealth Bank ATM, NetBank or by calling the Bank before you write a cheque or before making another transaction           keep track of and allow for any payments that may not have been processed to your account           keep track of and allow for any scheduled payments when they are due           schedule regular payments for the day after your pay/pension is credited to your account           suspend or reschedule payments if you know you will not have sufficient funds in your account to make the payment   For a credit card account, Commonwealth Bank advises customers to ensure that at least the minimum payment is paid by the payment due date To find out more:   http://www.commbank.com.au/personal/daybanking/MinimisingFees.asp
HSBC	HSBC approach HSBC advises customers that it is committed to fee disclosure. You can find a list of fees in the brochure entitled Personal financial services charges – your guide, available from the website.   Updates to fees are also advised to customers. HSBC may alter its fees from time to time. When it makes such a change the Bank will notify you and will explain to you the nature of the new fee or fee increase and how it may affect the service provided to you. Note that some changes in government-imposed fees will be publicised by the government rather than HSBC.   The timing for different fees will vary. Details of when the Bank charges you a specific fee can be found in the terms and conditions.   How to avoid HSBC exception fees           choose the most appropriate account for your transactional or savings needs           review your banking habits and identify what you are being charged fees for           review the relevant Terms and Conditions and Product Disclosure Statement; these will help you understand the fees that may be charged in relation to your product           plan your spending           create a budget; review your financial commitments and reconcile them with incoming funds to identify your overall spending limits           check your balance regularly at an HSBC branch, an HSBC ATM, or by internet and phone banking and always operate within your account balance or credit limit           be mindful of your direct debits and ensure that you maintain enough money in your accounts to accommodate these commitments           reschedule payments if you know your balance will not cover the required debit amount           keep a small balance in your account to cover unexpected payments or withdrawals           check your account or credit card balance before making large purchases           make sure you pay your credit card, personal loan and mortgage payments by the due date           schedule regular payments for the day after your salary or other regular incoming funds are due to arrive in your account.   To find out more:   http://www.banking.hsbc.com.au/information/news/070629.html      http://www.hsbc.com.au/1/PA_1_2_S5/content/australia/common/pdf/personal/exception-fees-report.pdf
NAB	September 2007 NAB announcement In September 2007 NAB announced the bank will be moving away from exception fees with smart everyday banking.   The Bank will introduce a range of new measures that cut fees and make everyday banking easier for millions of customers. The aim is to ‘offer greater choice, better value and more simplicity in banking, Nab said. The Bank is to further assist low income earners, and is also strengthening its customer charter to better reflect their approach on fees.   This means:          fees that are clear to customers and explained in simple, everyday language        giving customers greater choice to pay for the services they want   In 2006 NAB relaunched its market leading Concession Card Account with no exception fees. Since November 2007, customers with a NAB Concession Card Account are no longer charged overlimit fees (previously $25) on their NAB credit card. NAB has also removed the ability to overdraw the card on electronic purchases.   Also, from early next year, NAB will lower its dishonour fee (outward) from $50 to $30, and eliminate the inward dishonour fee (currently $12 for credit cards only).   In November 2007, NAB launched a new NAB smart everyday banking account called Clear Banking. NAB’s new Clear Banking account has been especially designed for those wanting firm control of their budget and reduces the risk of customers overdrawing. For a $6 monthly service fee (which doesn’t need to be paid if customers deposit more than $3,500 into the account per month) the Clear Banking account has no exception fees.   How to avoid NAB exception fees NAB advises its customers that the simplest way to avoid these fees is to operate their account within its normal limits.  To help achieve this Nab has listed some handy tips that will help you keep track of your accounts and manage day-to-day banking:             check your account balance regularly via NAB ATMs, NAB Telephone Banking and NAB Internet Banking           know when direct debits or periodical payments will withdraw funds from your account; you may consider changing the date to ensure they happen just after you receive your pay           make sure you have the funds to cover any cheques or payments you make           wait for cheques you have deposited to be cleared before you try to use the funds           have your salary credited into the account that your direct debits are paid from           combine or consolidate any individual everyday bank accounts to help you manage cash flow activities to cover direct debits, periodical payments etc   If you regularly need to exceed the balance of available funds in your account you can apply for an overdraft facility, which allows you to overdraw your account up to an approved limit; to find out more about overdrafts or the NAB Concession Card Account, drop into your local NAB branch and talk to your banker about your options, or call the Bank.   The Bank advises customers to arrange for a direct debit to pay your credit card. To find out more: http://www.nab.com.au/About_Us/0,,87884,00.html  http://www.nab.com.au/Personal_Finance/0,,83417,00.html
St George	St. George’s June 2007 review Since May 2007, St. George has conducted a comprehensive review of the content and positioning of its ‘How to minimise fees’ education section on the Bank’s website, including home page prominence and clear explanation of fees and various ways customers can avoid them.   St. George Bank advises that exception fees are avoidable and fully disclosed upfront as part of the Bank’s terms and conditions.   How to avoid St George exception fees St. George has a number of ways for you to monitor the state of your accounts and ensure you avoid these types of fees. The Bank makes it easy to monitor your account through:             Internet and Phone banking           St. George ATM balance enquiries           SMS and email alerts           Enquiring at any St George branch   Other tips to avoid exception fees are listed on the Bank’s website.   Real-time SMS and email alerts on all your accounts are an efficient way for you to receive updates on your accounts, providing more control over your finances and a greater sense of security.   Customers can request either SMS or email:             Daily Balance Alerts - get the available balance on your nominated deposit account at the beginning of every day           Withdrawal Alerts - enjoy peace of mind knowing your direct debits or loan repayments have been made           Deposit Alerts - keep track of your salary payment or other direct credits           High Balance Alerts - don’t max out that credit card - be informed when your balance reaches a pre-determined limit           Low Balance Alerts - avoid overdrawing your account - receive alerts when your balance reaches a pre-determined limit           Authorisation Alerts - keep a step ahead of fraudsters - be notified of each new credit or debit card authorisation.   You can register for SMS and email alerts via Internet banking. Email alerts are free, while SMS alerts are charged at $0.25 per SMS. If a customer has a Complete Freedom account they will receive 10 free SMS alerts per month.   You can also avoid late payment fees by arranging for an Automatic Payment Plan on your credit card account. This ensures that at least the minimum monthly amount due is paid. To manage your accounts and ensure you know exactly when payments are due utilise the scheduled payments function within internet banking for BPAY® and payee transfers. You can even set up an email alert to let you know when your transaction has been successfully processed. These transactions are quick and easy to set up. Unlike Periodic Payments, scheduled payments cannot overdraw your account and therefore remove the risk of incurring a dishonour or honour fee.   To find out more: http://www.stgeorge.com.au/media_centre/news/news_archive.asp?id=245 http://www.stgeorge.com.au/accounts/fees/minimise.asp?orc=personal&WT.ac=Front-Righthowtominimisefees-         July07
Suncorp	Suncorp’s July 2007 review Suncorp’s latest review of fees occurred in July 2007 and resulted in the publication of additional information in the Bank’s Product Information Documents to assist customers to understand and avoid exception fees on Suncorp accounts.   As part of normal business operations, Suncorp regularly reviews fees to ensure its products are very competitive and makes information available on how these fees can be minimised. As a result of its latest review, Suncorp will no longer charge an Inward Dishonour Fee effective December 2007.   Any changes to exception fees resulting from a review by the Bank are communicated to customers.   How to avoid Suncorp transaction fees Suncorp advises customers to make sure that they have enough money available in their account before writing a cheque and to ensure that the money remains in their account until the cheque is deposited or cashed by the other party.   For example, if a customer writes a $100 cheque to pay a bill, they need to make sure that $100 is left in the account until the cheque is presented to the Bank for payment. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a while for a cheque to be banked and customers may inadvertently withdraw the funds before the cheque is presented.   Suncorp also suggests the following ways to ensure that a customer’s funds remain available to meet payments:             always keep track of transactions made on your card and check your online statements regularly if you are a frequent user           make sure you have sufficient money available in your account to cover your credit card transactions; your available balance can be checked at any time through Suncorp ATMs, Internet and Phone Banking           take note of the due date when you receive your credit card statement and take care to make your payment on or before that date           make sure you allow for any processing time that may apply when using payment services such as BPay or external transfers from another bank; if you are unclear, check with the bank that you’re making the payment from to find out how long the processing time may be. Processing time delays payments meaning you may not meet the repayment due by date if you do not allow enough time between making the payment and the due date           use ‘sweeps’ to automatically transfer funds between Suncorp accounts; this service would enable money to be automatically transferred for example if a cheque was presented on an account that did not have enough money in it to meet the payment           set up alerts on Internet Banking so that you receive notifications when the balance in your account hits a nominated limit           use alternative payment methods such as transfers or bank cheques so the funds are immediately withdrawn from your account   Customers can set up a sweep between their Suncorp accounts which will automatically transfer money into a nominated account if there are insufficient funds in that account to cover a direct debit or personal cheque. The cost of a sweep is $1.50, which is much less than the fees for overdrawing the account or for the dishonour of a direct debit or cheque.   Making regular payments during the month using our Autopay facility can also reduce the risk of the customer’s card going over its limit.   Suncorp assists its customers to avoid the over the limit fee by preventing electronically authorised transactions to cause the account to go over its approved limit. This means that withdrawals using Suncorp Internet, Phone Banking, ATMs and electronic merchant terminals (where possible) will be declined if the customer’s credit card is already over the agreed credit limit or the transaction would cause the customer to exceed their limit.   However, there may still be some transactions processed to a credit card account that result in a customer exceeding their credit limit, for example, Visa purchases that are not electronically authorised or recurring direct debit transactions. Suncorp recommends that customers make provision for these transactions when calculating their available balance.   Suncorp encourages its customers to choose an account suitable to their lifestyle and to learn more on how to minimise exception fees.   To find out more:   http://suncorp.com.au/suncorp/personal/everyday_banking_accounts/exception_fees.aspx
Westpac	30th June 2008 Westpac Announcement   Westpac will abolish all exception fees on its Basic Bank Account, effective 1st August 2008. In addition, the Basic Bank Account has no monthly service fee and allows unlimited Westpac transactions across branch, ATM, EFTPOS, Telephone and Internet Banking.   This follows initiatives in May 2008 when Westpac reduced outward dishonour fees on Choice accounts from $50 to $35 and February 2008 when customers with a Westpac Deeming and Basic Transaction Account, are no longer charged an Overlimit fee and have had the Missed Payment Fee reduced from $35 to $15. This was also extended to all Student Card customers on the 17th of April 2008.     Change also followed the launch of the innovative Westpac Assist initiative in November 2007.   Westpac Assist is a special unit dedicated to identifying and assisting customers at risk of falling into financial difficulty.   Since its launch, Westpac Assist has helped more than 2,700 customers regain control of their finances and avoid defaulting on their financial obligations to Westpac.   Westpac Assist is fundamental to Westpac’s Responsible Lending Principles which include the following commitments: • We will seek to lend only what our customers can afford to repay • We will market our products and services responsibly • We support customers facing financial difficulty • We help to improve our stakeholders’ financial literacy and capability.     How to avoid Westpac exception fees Westpac advises its customers the following options may be available:              check balances regularly via a Westpac ATM, Telephone Banking, or Internet Banking to ensure there are sufficient cleared funds available to make scheduled payments           set up a due date to process the payment a day after scheduled payment of cleared funds are made to the account           maintain a consistent surplus balance to ensure there are sufficient cleared funds available when scheduled payments are processed           ensure sufficient cleared funds are available in the account prior to writing a cheque           establish an automatic transfer or automatic replenishment to ensure there are sufficient cleared funds available when the scheduled payment is due. ($1.50 per transfer)           consider an alternative method for scheduled payments, eg salary disbursement, BPAY or Internet Banking           set up your direct debit to draw from an alternate applicable account (eg credit card, loan account)           investigate the possibility of a permanent overdraft           set a reminder in your diary, organiser, computer or mobile phone for the day before a scheduled payment is due. This way you can ensure there are sufficient cleared funds in your account for the payment. In addition, for customers who experience fluctuations in their cash flow, Westpac has; o         removed the application fee for overdrafts – previously $250 o         reduced the monthly fee by 25% from $8 to $6 o         reduced the minimum amount of an overdraft from $1000 to $200     The Bank offers the Westpac Budget Planner to help avoid exception fees. It is available on the Bank’s website. Use the Budget Planner to assess how much you currently spend and work out what you can save each month towards a regular investment, and avoid overdrawing your account.   Westpac provides the following tips to avoid credit card exception fees:             set up Card Autopay, a free service that automatically pays the minimum monthly payment or a nominated amount to the credit card monthly           set a reminder in your diary, organiser, computer or mobile phone for the day before the monthly payment is due           ensure spend is within the credit limit           obtain regular balances via a Westpac ATM, Telephone Banking, and Internet Banking to ensure there are sufficient cleared funds to conduct transactions without exceeding limits           maintain a buffer to your account to ensure all direct debits and other scheduled payments can be made           investigate the possibility of an increase in credit card limit           use Westpac’s Budget Planner   To find out more:   http://www.westpac.com.au/internet/publish.nsf/Content/WICRCU+Helping+you+avoid+or+minimise+fees