Overdrafts explained
An Arranged or Unarranged Overdraft is a way to borrow money from the bank and is intended for occasional use.
Here’s a quick overview of how they work:
Arranged Overdraft – where we agree it with you in advance. It’s a safety net for short-term or occasional use. It’s there when you need it and you only pay interest if you use it.
Unarranged Overdraft – when you borrow from us without agreeing it first. For example, if you ask us to make a payment, and we do, even though there isn’t enough money in your account. You will pay interest on an Unarranged Overdraft.
If you ask us to make a payment and you don’t have enough money in your account or any Arranged Overdraft, we may refuse it. If we refuse the payment, we won’t charge you a fee for that.
You should aim to repay your overdraft borrowing as quickly as possible and use it responsibly as your usage will be reflected in your credit file.
Calculate the cost of an overdraft
Use our simple overdraft calculator to compare the cost of overdrafts and work out how much an overdraft could cost you.
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How does our Overdraft compare?
Representative example
| Rate of interest | Total amount of credit | Representative APR |
|---|---|---|
| 18.29% p.a. Variable | £1,200 | 19.90% Variable |
| 26.45% p.a. Variable | £1,200 | 29.90% Variable |
| 34.05% p.a. Variable | £1,200 | 39.90% Variable |
A representative APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is the rate you may pay and is designed to let you compare costs with other credit products, taking into account that you may pay interest and includes any fees which apply. If no fees apply, the APR will be the same as the EAR(1). APRs are variable and may change. Your actual rate will be dependent on your financial circumstances. The maximum rate offered will be 39.90%. Your rate will apply to both Arranged and Unarranged borrowing and will be advised upon successful application.
As an example, the interest cost of borrowing £500 at our different rates of 19.90%, 29.90%, 39.90% (variable), it will cost you:
| APR / EAR1 Variable | 7 Days | 30 Days | 60 Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19.90% | £1.75 | £7.51 | £15.13 |
| 29.90% | £2.53 | £10.86 | £21.96 |
| 39.90% | £3.26 | £13.99 | £28.37 |
You can use our calculator to work out how much your anticipated overdraft borrowing could cost, based on the size of your overdraft and how long you borrow for.
Overdraft fees
| Description | Fee | Buffer |
|---|---|---|
| Refusing A Payment Due To Lack Of Funds Fee | None | |
| Monthly Maximum Charge The Monthly Maximum Charge (MMC) is a monthly cap on Unarranged Overdraft interest. The MMC is the most you’d pay each month in such interest. 1. Each current account will set a monthly maximum charge for: (a) going overdrawn when you do not have an Arranged Overdraft; or (b) going over your Arranged Overdraft limit (if you have one). 2. This cap covers any interest for going over your Arranged Overdraft limit. | £20.00 per calendar month |
The amount of debit interest will be notified to you at the end of each calendar month, giving you at least 14 days notice before it is applied to your account.
Next steps
Check if you're eligible
Using the eligibility checker will not affect your credit score in any way.
Check eligibility Link opens in a new windowApply for an arranged overdraft
Already have an M Plus or Club M Account? You can use our online form to request or amend an arranged overdraft.
Apply nowWant an account with an overdraft?
If you need one, our range of current accounts comes with overdraft options. Subject to status.
View our current accounts
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Our online budget planner will guide you through this process and it should only take around 15 minutes to complete. Once you've completed this, one of our team will contact you directly to discuss your options.
[1] EAR (Effective Annual Rate) - The Effective Annual Rate is used to express the cost of borrowing on current accounts. The EAR takes account of the rate of interest charged, the frequency it is levied to accounts and compounding of interest. It does not include overdraft fees and is variable.