What is the CITIZENS BANK OVERDRAFT charge on my credit card?

What this charge usually means

The descriptor CITIZENS BANK OVERDRAFT is typically a bank fee, not a retail purchase. It appears when Citizens Bank pays a transaction that exceeds your available balance and then assesses an overdraft fee. Citizens publicly states an overdraft fee structure of $35 per item paid, with a daily cap on how many overdraft fees can be charged in one day.

Because this is a bank service fee, cardholders often confuse it with a merchant charge. In most cases, it is linked to checking account activity, debit card spending, ACH payments, checks, or scheduled bill payments that posted when funds were not sufficient.

Why it appeared

• Your account balance was too low when a debit card, ACH, or check transaction posted.
• Pending transactions reduced your available balance more than expected.
• A deposit was made but was not yet available under funds-availability timing.
• Multiple items posted the same day, causing one or more overdraft events.
• You are enrolled in overdraft coverage, and the bank paid the item instead of declining it.

If you are comparing different statement lines, you may also see descriptors from other payment platforms such as Patreon or Cash App. Those are separate merchants and should be reviewed independently from a bank overdraft fee.

How to verify the charge

First, open your Citizens transaction history for the date the fee posted. Look for a negative balance period and the item(s) that were paid during that window. Match timestamps and amounts to confirm whether the fee corresponds to a specific transaction.

• Check your available balance (not only ledger balance) at the time of posting.
• Review pending card purchases and ACH debits that may have settled later.
• Confirm whether a check deposit was on hold and unavailable the same day.
• Call Citizens support at 1-800-922-9999 to request a fee breakdown.

If the fee is unfamiliar, ask the representative to identify the exact triggering transaction, posting order, and whether your account qualified for any automatic fee rebate timing.

How to stop or reduce future overdraft fees

You usually cannot “cancel” a fee after it posts in the same way you cancel a subscription, but you can reduce future occurrences by adjusting account settings and funding behavior.

• Bring the account positive as soon as possible after an overdraft.
• Set low-balance alerts in online or mobile banking.
• Link eligible overdraft transfer options if available for your account.
• Review whether to opt in or out of debit card overdraft coverage.
• Keep a small buffer balance for recurring debits and autopays.

How to dispute the charge

Dispute the fee if you believe it was posted in error, tied to unauthorized activity, or applied contrary to your account terms. Contact Citizens through official support and request a formal review.

• Provide the fee date, amount, and any related transaction IDs.
• State clearly why the fee is incorrect (unauthorized item, posting error, duplicate assessment, etc.).
• Request provisional review notes and escalation if needed.
• Keep screenshots and call-reference numbers for follow-up.

If fraud is involved, report it immediately so the underlying unauthorized transaction can be investigated alongside the overdraft fee outcome.