Published
April 13, 2026
Updated
August 31, 2026
SunTrust account holders who were charged overdraft fees may qualify to claim a pro rata share of the $240 million settlement, with a $5 minimum per account paid by check or Zelle. Claims close September 14, 2026, and the Unique ID and PIN from the notice are required.
What Is This Settlement About?
SunTrust Bank (now Truist Bank) has agreed to pay a maximum of $240 million to resolve a long-running class action alleging that certain of its overdraft fees on ATM and debit card transactions amounted to illegal interest under Georgia law. The case is Bickerstaff v. SunTrust Bank, Civil File No. 10EV010485, in the State Court of Fulton County, Georgia.The lawsuit claimed that when SunTrust covered an overdraft and charged a flat fee, that fee effectively functioned as interest that exceeded the rate allowed under Georgia's usury laws, and further alleged conversion and money had and received. SunTrust denies that its overdraft fees are interest and denies that it violated any law or is liable for any of the claims. By entering into this settlement, Truist does not admit any wrongdoing or liability. The parties agreed to settle to avoid the expense and uncertainty of further litigation.
On May 26, 2026, the court held a Fairness and Final Approval Hearing and granted final approval of the settlement. Claim forms were mailed and emailed to eligible class members beginning July 14, 2026, and the deadline to file a claim is September 14, 2026.
Status
Claims Closed
Final approval granted May 26, 2026.
Claim Deadline
September 14, 2026
File online or by mail.
Estimated Payout
Pro rata share of $240M
$5 minimum per account · paid by check or Zelle.
Proof Required
Yes
Unique ID & PIN from your mailed or emailed notice.
Who Qualifies for the SunTrust Overdraft Fee Settlement?
You may be part of the settlement class if all of the following apply to you:• You had one or more deposit accounts with SunTrust Bank that were not closed before June 1, 2010.
• Between July 12, 2006 and April 15, 2014, you had at least one overdraft of $500 or less resulting from an ATM or debit card transaction.
• You paid overdraft fees as a result of that transaction.
• You did not receive a refund of those fees.
• You were a Georgia citizen on July 12, 2010 and continuously remained a Georgia citizen through October 6, 2017.
A "Georgia citizen" means you were a U.S. citizen who made Georgia your home throughout that entire period. If you received a postcard or email notice addressed to you, SunTrust's records suggest you may qualify. Covered fees include overdraft fees, insufficient funds fees, NSF fees, and extended overdraft fees. The settlement does not cover fees charged when an overdraft was covered by transferring your own money from one of your accounts to another.
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How Much Will the SunTrust Settlement Pay?
SunTrust agreed to pay a maximum of $240 million. From that amount, the court may deduct attorney fees of up to 33.3% of the settlement, costs and expenses of up to $3 million, a class representative incentive payment of up to $200,000, and the costs of administering the notice and claims process. The remaining money is called the "Net Settling Class Member Funds," and it is divided among all class members who submit valid claim forms.Your individual payment depends on how many overdraft fees you paid and how many people file claims. An expert calculates each account's share using this formula: total unrefunded overdraft fees on your account, plus 7% simple interest per year from the date your account returned to a positive balance through December 31, 2025. That total is divided by the sum of all account totals to determine your proportional share of the net funds.
If your calculated payment would be less than $5, you receive a minimum payment of $5. Payments are made by check or Zelle digital transfer. For joint accounts, if only one account holder files a claim, that person receives the full payment for the account; if multiple account holders file claims for the same account, the payment is split equally between them.
How to File a Claim
Now that the court has granted final approval, eligible class members can file a claim. Claim forms were mailed and emailed to class members beginning July 14, 2026. You must submit a valid claim form by September 14, 2026 to receive a cash payment.You can file two ways:
• Online: Use the Unique ID and PIN printed on your postcard or email notice to log in and submit your claim on the official settlement website. After you submit, you receive a confirmation code by email — keep it for your records.
• By mail: Complete the paper claim form included with your postcard notice, sign it, date it, and mail it to the Settlement Administrator at the address on the form.
You must submit a separate claim form for each eligible SunTrust account. On the form you affirm under penalty of perjury that you were a Georgia citizen on July 12, 2010 and continuously through October 6, 2017, and sign your name. SunTrust's records already identify which accounts qualify and the amount of overdraft fees charged, so you do not need to provide receipts or bank statements — but you do need the Unique ID and PIN from your notice to file online. If you believe you qualify but did not receive a notice, or lost yours, request assistance through the official settlement website.
What Is This Lawsuit About?
The case was originally filed on July 12, 2010, when a Georgia SunTrust customer sued on behalf of a proposed class, alleging that SunTrust's overdraft fees on ATM and debit card transactions were actually a form of interest — and that the effective rate far exceeded what Georgia's usury laws allow. Under those laws, licensed lenders generally cannot charge more than a capped rate of interest on small loans, and the complaint alleged that a flat overdraft fee on a small debit-card overdraft amounted to interest well above that cap.SunTrust denied that overdraft fees are interest, arguing they are flat charges for a service rather than interest computed on a loan balance. In 2014, the Georgia legislature amended the state's usury law to clarify that overdraft fees are not treated as interest going forward, and the class may not assert claims based on overdraft fees charged after April 15, 2014.
The case moved through class certification and multiple rounds of appeals at the Georgia Court of Appeals and Georgia Supreme Court before the parties agreed to settle. The Georgia Court of Appeals held that class members who closed their SunTrust accounts before June 1, 2010 must arbitrate their claims, and that class members may not assert claims based on overdraft fees charged after April 15, 2014. The parties then agreed to the settlement to avoid the cost and uncertainty of continued litigation.
Is SunTrust the Same as Truist Bank?
Yes. SunTrust Bank merged with BB&T Corporation in December 2019 to create Truist Financial Corporation. If you were a SunTrust customer before the merger, your account was transferred to Truist. This settlement covers overdraft fees charged when the bank was still operating as SunTrust Bank, and Truist is responsible for the settlement payments.Key Deadlines and Dates
• Opt-Out (Exclusion) Deadline: Passed — postmarked by April 20, 2026• Objection Deadline: Passed — April 20, 2026
• Fairness and Final Approval Hearing: May 26, 2026 — final approval granted
• Claim Forms Mailed/Emailed: Beginning July 14, 2026
• Claim Form Deadline: September 14, 2026
The settlement becomes final once the time to appeal has expired or any appeals are resolved without a material change to the terms. Payments are issued after the claims process is complete. Dates can change by court order, so check the official settlement website for the latest schedule.
What Happens If I Do Nothing?
If you are a class member and do not submit a claim form by September 14, 2026, you will not receive any payment. You will still be bound by the settlement and will release your claims against SunTrust, meaning you cannot sue separately over the same overdraft fees. The only way to receive money from the settlement is to file a valid claim form before the deadline.Avoiding Scams
The legitimate administrator will never ask for an up-front "processing fee," your online banking password, or your full Social Security number to release your payment. Anyone who contacts you demanding payment or sensitive login details to "unlock" this settlement is not the real administrator. File only through the official settlement website, and use the Unique ID and PIN printed on your own notice.Frequently Asked Questions
How do I file a claim now?
The court granted final approval on May 26, 2026, and claim forms were mailed and emailed beginning July 14, 2026. You can file online (using the Unique ID and PIN on your notice) or by mail. You must submit your claim by September 14, 2026.Do I need to prove how much I paid in overdraft fees?
No. SunTrust's records already identify eligible accounts and the amount of overdraft fees charged, so you do not need receipts or bank statements. However, to file online you must enter the Unique ID and PIN printed on your notice, which serves as proof of class membership.What if I moved out of Georgia?
You must have been a Georgia citizen continuously from July 12, 2010 through October 6, 2017 to qualify. If you moved out of Georgia during that period, you may not be eligible. If you moved out after October 6, 2017, you may still qualify if you met all other requirements.Can I get paid by Zelle?
Yes. Payments are made by check or Zelle digital transfer.What if I did not receive a notice?
If you believe you qualify but did not receive a postcard or email notice, contact the Settlement Administrator through the official settlement website to update your contact information. Without a notice you will not have the Unique ID and PIN needed to file online.Official Settlement Notice
Sources and Resources
- Official Settlement Website — SunTrust Overdraft Class Action
- Official Settlement Notice (PDF) — Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement
- State Court of Fulton County, Georgia — Bickerstaff v. SunTrust Bank, Civil File No. 10EV010485
For more class actions keep scrolling below.
Settlement Amount
$240,000,000 (maximum)
Case Title
Bickerstaff v. SunTrust Bank
Case Number
10EV010485
Court
State Court of Fulton County, Georgia
Final Approval Hearing
May 26, 2026 — Final Approval Granted
Claim Deadline
September 14, 2026
Administrator
Epiq
Official Website
SunTrust Overdraft Class Action.com
