Regulation D (FRB)
Reserve Requirements for Depository Institutions (12 C.F.R. 204, Regulation D) is a Federal Reserve Board regulation that limits the number of preauthorized withdrawals and transfers from a savings account or money market account. The regulation applies to all United States banking institutions offering such accounts.
Six-transaction limit
In consumer banking, "Regulation D" often refers to §204.2(d)(2) of the regulation, which places a limit of six withdrawals or outgoing transfers per month[1] from savings or money market accounts via several transaction methods. Transactions counted against the limit include "preauthorized or automatic transfer, or telephonic (including data transmission) agreement, order or instruction, or by check, draft, debit card, or similar order made by the depositor and payable to third parties." Transactions not counted against the limit include "mail, messenger or in person or when such withdrawals are made by telephone (via check mailed to the depositor)."
The regulation was amended in 2009 to allow greater freedom for the depositor: beforehand, the limit was six withdrawals per month if the funds remained within the same institution (e.g., transfer to checking), but was only three drafts where the funds left the institution (e.g., check, ACH, or card based purchase).[2]
The number of deposits or incoming transfers into savings or money market accounts is not limited.
Regulation D does not emplace the six-time transfer limit on outbound savings or money market account transactions initiated in person, via messenger or mail; over-the-counter (OTC) withdrawals and transfers, ATM withdrawals and transfers, or installment loan repayments.
Regulation D "penalties" or fees do vary by financial institution. USAA, for example, will close an account if Regulation D is exceeded more than 3 times within a 12-month period. From a legal standpoint, notifications of exceeding the allowed 6 transfers have to be communicated with the customer of USAA. Each financial institution will choose to charge (or not charge) fees for exceeding these limits. Wells Fargo, will not close the savings account, but will charge a $15 "Excess Transaction Fee" for each item cleared after the regulation has been exceeded. Financial institutions are allowed to choose their own fee schedule related to this required federal regulation.
See also
References
Regulation D of the Federal Reserve
https://www.wellsfargo.com/single_faq/fees/excessive_activity_fee https://www08.wellsfargomedia.com/downloads/pdf/online_disclosures/FEE/EN/FII.pdf https://www.usaa.com/pdf/DaD0406_BillPay0704_SvcFee0606.pdf
