$240 Million SunTrust Overdraft Fee Class Action Settlement — Georgia Customers May Get Cash Back
Steve Levine | Published: February 18, 2026
Status: Claim Forms Coming Soon (Pending Final Approval)
Settlement Amount: $240,000,000
Opt-Out Deadline: April 20, 2026
Fairness Hearing: May 26, 2026
If you were a Georgia resident and paid overdraft fees to SunTrust Bank on ATM or debit card transactions between July 12, 2006 and April 15, 2014, you may be eligible for a cash payment from a $240 million class action settlement. SunTrust Bank is now called Truist Bank after its 2019 merger with BB&T.
The settlement was filed in Fulton County State Court in Georgia in the case Bickerstaff v. SunTrust Bank, Civil File No. 10EV010485. The court granted preliminary approval on January 23, 2026. Claim forms are not yet available — they will be sent to eligible class members after the court holds its final approval hearing on May 26, 2026.
You do not need to do anything right now to stay in the settlement. But if you believe you qualify and did not receive a notice by mail or email, you should contact the Settlement Administrator immediately at 1-877-239-8765 or info@SunTrustOverdraftClassAction.com to make sure you receive a claim form when they become available.
Download the full settlement notice (PDF)
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.
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 (up to $80 million), 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 funds after those deductions are called the "Net Settling Class Member Funds." That money will be divided among all class members who submit valid claim forms.
Your individual payment will depend on how many overdraft fees you paid and how many people file claims. An expert will calculate 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 then 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 will receive a minimum payment of $5. Payments will be 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
Claim forms are not available yet. Once the court grants final approval of the settlement (expected after the May 26, 2026 fairness hearing), claim forms will be mailed and emailed to all eligible class members.To receive a payment, you must complete and submit a claim form by the deadline (which has not been set yet). On the claim form you will need to 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.
You can submit your claim form by mail or online. You will need to submit a separate claim form for each eligible SunTrust account. SunTrust's records already identify which accounts qualify and the amount of overdraft fees charged, so you will not need to provide proof of your fees.
If you did not receive a notice but believe you qualify, contact the Settlement Administrator now at 1-877-239-8765 or info@SunTrustOverdraftClassAction.com to update your contact information and ensure you receive a claim form.
What Is This Lawsuit About?
This case has been going on for nearly 16 years. In July 2010, Georgia SunTrust customer Jeff Bickerstaff Jr. filed a class action lawsuit alleging that SunTrust's overdraft fees on ATM and debit card transactions were actually a form of interest — and that the interest rate far exceeded what Georgia's usury laws allow.Under Georgia's usury laws, licensed lenders cannot charge more than 10% interest on a loan of $3,000 or less. The lawsuit alleged that when SunTrust covered an overdraft on a debit card purchase and then charged a flat fee of $32 to $36, that fee effectively amounted to an interest rate far higher than 10% on the small amounts involved.
SunTrust denied that overdraft fees are interest. SunTrust argued that overdraft fees are flat charges for a service, not interest computed on a loan balance. In 2014, the Georgia legislature amended the state's usury law to clarify that overdraft fees are not considered interest going forward, but the court ruled that amendment did not apply to this case retroactively.
The original plaintiff, Jeff Bickerstaff Jr., passed away in 2014. Charles Daniel Bickerstaff, as administrator of his estate, was substituted as the class representative in 2023. The case went through five rounds of appeals at the Georgia Court of Appeals and Georgia Supreme Court before the parties agreed to settle.
By entering this settlement, Truist Bank (formerly SunTrust) does not admit any wrongdoing or liability.
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. Truist is responsible for the settlement payments.Key Deadlines and Dates
• Opt-Out (Exclusion) Deadline: Postmarked by April 20, 2026 (received by May 4, 2026)• Objection Deadline: Filed with the court by April 20, 2026
• Fairness and Final Approval Hearing: May 26, 2026 at 1:30 p.m., Courtroom 2A, State Court of Fulton County, Georgia
• Claim Form Deadline: Not yet set — forms will be sent after final approval
• Payment Date: Not yet set — payments will be issued after claims processing is complete
How to Opt Out of the SunTrust Settlement
If you do not want to participate in the settlement, you can request exclusion (opt out). If you opt out, you will not receive any money from the settlement, but you will keep your right to sue SunTrust on your own.To opt out, you must mail a written letter that includes your name, current address, and telephone number, the name of the lawsuit (Bickerstaff v. SunTrust Bank, Civil File No. 10EV010485), the words "Request for Exclusion" or a clear statement that you request exclusion, and your signature.
Mail your opt-out request to:
SunTrust Overdraft Class Action
Settlement Administrator
PO Box 2873
Portland, OR 97208-2873
Your request must be postmarked by April 20, 2026 and received by May 4, 2026. You cannot opt out by telephone or email.
How to Object to the Settlement
If you want to stay in the settlement class but believe the settlement is not fair, you can file a written objection with the court. Your objection must include your full name, address, email, phone number, your signature, a statement explaining why you are a class member, and a detailed explanation of your objection with legal support.Objections must be filed with the State Court of Fulton County by April 20, 2026. Copies must also be sent to Class Counsel and SunTrust's attorneys. Full instructions are in the settlement notice.
What Happens If I Do Nothing?
If you are a class member and do nothing right now, you will remain in the settlement class. You do not need to take any action at this time to preserve your right to a payment. When claim forms become available after final approval, you must submit one to receive money.If you do not submit a claim form when it becomes available, you will not receive any payment. However, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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. You do not need to provide receipts or bank statements. You only need to submit the claim form and affirm your Georgia citizenship.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 of Georgia after October 6, 2017, you may still qualify as long as you met all the other requirements.What if I closed my SunTrust account?
If your SunTrust account was closed before June 1, 2010, you are not eligible for this settlement. If your account was closed on or after June 1, 2010, you may still qualify as long as you meet all other requirements.Can I get paid by Zelle?
Yes. According to the settlement terms, payments will be made by check or Zelle digital transfer.How long has this lawsuit been going on?
The lawsuit was originally filed on July 12, 2010 — nearly 16 years ago. It has gone through five rounds of appeals and multiple proceedings at the trial court, Georgia Court of Appeals, and Georgia Supreme Court before the parties agreed to settle. Preliminary approval was granted on January 23, 2026.Who are the lawyers representing the class?
The court-appointed Class Counsel are Michael B. Terry, Jason J. Carter, Patrick C. Fagan, Jeffrey W. Chen, and Jennifer L. Peterson of Bondurant Mixson & Elmore, LLP in Atlanta, along with C. Ronald Ellington and J. Benjamin Finley.Sources and Resources
• Official Settlement Website: SunTrustOverdraftClassAction.com• Full Settlement Notice (PDF)
• Case: Bickerstaff v. SunTrust Bank, Civil File No. 10EV010485 (State Court of Fulton County, Georgia)
• Settlement Administrator: 1-877-239-8765 or info@SunTrustOverdraftClassAction.com
Filing SunTrust Overdraft Class Action Settlement Claim Information
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Submit Claim| SunTrust Overdraft Fee Settlement Summary | |
| Settlement Amount | $240,000,000 |
|---|---|
| Case Name | Bickerstaff v. SunTrust Bank, No. 10EV010485 |
| Court | State Court of Fulton County, Georgia |
| Defendant | SunTrust Bank (now Truist Bank) |
| Who Qualifies | Georgia citizens who paid unrefunded overdraft fees on ATM/debit transactions of $500 or less at SunTrust, July 2006 – April 2014 |
| Fees Covered | Overdraft fees, NSF fees, insufficient funds fees, extended overdraft fees |
| Claim Form | Coming soon (after final court approval) |
| Opt-Out Deadline | Postmarked by April 20, 2026 |
| Objection Deadline | April 20, 2026 |
| Fairness Hearing | May 26, 2026, 1:30 p.m. |
| Payment Method | Check or Zelle |
| Settlement Website | SunTrust Overdraft Class Action |