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Are "bounced check loans" really loans? Theory, evidence and policy

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  • Fusaro, Marc Anthony

Abstract

This research addresses the controversial bank policy of paying - rather than bouncing - overdrawn checks, debits or ATM withdrawals. We argue that it should fall under lending regulations only if consumers use the program to get intentional loans. In contrast, if the program primarily applies to checking account activity then it should fall under checking account regulations. A model of precautionary balance holding and checking account customer data are used to estimate the likelihood of overdrafting. Predicted overdrafts are compared to actual overdrafts to conclude that 79% are explained by the model and thus thought to be mistakes due to the stochastic nature of household expenditures.

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  • Fusaro, Marc Anthony, 2010. "Are "bounced check loans" really loans? Theory, evidence and policy," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 50(4), pages 492-500, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:quaeco:v:50:y:2010:i:4:p:492-500
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    Cited by:

    1. Jennifer L. Dlugosz & Brian T. Melzer & Donald P. Morgan, 2021. "Who Pays the Price? Overdraft Fee Ceilings and the Unbanked," Staff Reports 973, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    2. Marc Anthony Fusaro, 2013. "Why Do People Use Debit Cards: Evidence From Checking Accounts," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 51(4), pages 1986-2001, October.
    3. Williams, Marlon L., 2016. "Bank overdraft pricing and myopic consumers," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 84-87.
    4. Campbell, Dennis & Asís Martínez-Jerez, F. & Tufano, Peter, 2012. "Bouncing out of the banking system: An empirical analysis of involuntary bank account closures," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 1224-1235.
    5. Claire Greene & Mi Luo, 2015. "Consumers' Use of Overdraft Protection," Consumer Payments Research Data Reports 2015-08, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
    6. Melzer, Brian T. & Morgan, Donald P., 2015. "Competition in a consumer loan market: Payday loans and overdraft credit," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 25-44.

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