SunTrust $240M Overdraft Settlement, Eligibility & How to Claim

Quick Facts

• Case name: Bickerstaff v. SunTrust Bank, Civil File No. 10EV010485 — State Court of Fulton County, Georgia
• Defendant: SunTrust Bank (now operating as Truist Bank)
• Settlement amount: Up to $240 million
• What it covers: Overdraft fees charged on ATM and debit card transactions of $500 or less — July 12, 2006 through April 15, 2014
• Who may qualify: Georgia residents who held qualifying SunTrust accounts and paid overdraft fees during the class period
• Settlement status: Preliminarily approved — final approval hearing May 26, 2026
• Opt-out / objection deadline: April 20, 2026 (postmarked)
• Claim form deadline: Not yet set — claim forms will be sent after final approval
• Official settlement website: SunTrustOverdraftClassAction.com or call 1-877-239-8765

SunTrust Bank, now known as Truist Bank, has agreed to a $240 million class action settlement to resolve claims it charged illegal overdraft fees on ATM and debit card transactions, which plaintiffs alleged harmed Georgia consumers. The court granted preliminary approval on January 23, 2026, after nearly 16 years of litigation. A final approval hearing is scheduled for May 26, 2026. No claim forms are available yet — they will be distributed after final approval. Georgia residents who paid SunTrust overdraft fees during the class period should monitor their mail and the official settlement website for updates.

What Is the SunTrust Overdraft Settlement?

The case, Bickerstaff v. SunTrust Bank, argued that overdraft fees are interest charges in disguise — and that SunTrust was charging rates that violated Georgia’s usury laws, which cap how much interest a lender can charge.

Jeff Bickerstaff, Jr. filed the original complaint on July 12, 2010, on behalf of himself and others, asserting that SunTrust’s overdraft fees constituted unlawful interest under Georgia’s civil usury laws, along with claims for money had and received and conversion. The original plaintiff passed away in 2014; Charles Daniel Bickerstaff serves as the current class representative.

SunTrust fought the case through every level of Georgia’s courts. The Georgia Supreme Court sided with consumers. When Truist appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court in January 2026, the Court declined to hear the case. Days later, Truist agreed to settle for up to $240 million. SunTrust denies that the overdraft fees constitute interest and denies any liability.

Who Is Eligible?

This settlement covers Georgia residents only. To be in the settlement class, you must have had one or more accounts with SunTrust Bank that were not closed before June 1, 2010, and between July 12, 2006 and April 15, 2014 you must have had at least one overdraft of $500 or less resulting from an ATM or debit card transaction, paid overdraft fees on that transaction, and been a Georgia citizen on July 12, 2010 who continuously remained a Georgia citizen through October 6, 2017.

You must also not have already received a refund of those fees. This settlement applies to Georgia residents only. If you were a SunTrust customer in another state, this specific settlement does not cover you.

Settlement Status and Legal Claims

The settlement has received preliminary approval and is working toward a final court decision.

Georgia usury law violation — Plaintiffs alleged that SunTrust’s overdraft fees functioned as interest and exceeded the maximum rate Georgia law permits lenders to charge.

Conversion — Plaintiffs argued SunTrust unlawfully took money belonging to account holders by charging fees that were not legally permitted.

Money had and received — Plaintiffs alleged SunTrust collected and retained money it was not legally entitled to keep under Georgia law.

SunTrust denies that the overdraft fees constitute interest and denies liability under any theory alleged. The parties agreed to settle to avoid further litigation risk and cost.

Settlement Details

Total fund: Up to $240 million

Who qualifies: Eligible Georgia residents who meet all class criteria above and timely submit a valid claim form.

How payments are calculated: The settlement administrator will calculate an “Account Total” by adding up the amount of all relevant unrefunded overdraft fees and adding 7% simple interest per year from the date the account achieved a positive balance until December 31, 2025. Each settling class member who timely submits a claim form will receive a portion of the net settlement funds allocated based on their account total. Payments will be issued by check or digital transfer via Zelle.

Estimated individual payments: Exact payments will vary, but class members are estimated to receive between $5 and $1,000 based on the amount they paid in overdraft fees. These figures are estimates only — actual amounts depend on the number of valid claims submitted and the court’s final approval.

Joint accounts: Rewards associated with joint accounts may be split among eligible account owners.

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How to File a Claim

Claim forms are not yet available. Once the court approves the settlement and resolves any appeals, the settlement administrator will send claim forms to eligible class members via mail and email, and add them to the settlement website.

Here is what to do now:

1. Check your eligibility using the criteria above — specifically, confirm you were a continuous Georgia resident from July 12, 2010 through October 6, 2017, and held a qualifying SunTrust account.
2. Keep old bank statements. If you have SunTrust account records showing overdraft fees from 2006–2017, preserve them. They may help support your claim.
3. Update your contact information. Class members should monitor their mail and email for their claim form and update their contact information with the settlement administrator if needed. Visit SunTrustOverdraftClassAction.com or call 1-877-239-8765 to update your address or email.
4. Submit your claim form when it becomes available. Claim forms will be sent after the final approval hearing. The current deadline is expected to be in approximately August 2026, but no official date has been announced.
5. Choose your payment method. Payments will be issued by check or Zelle digital transfer once claims are processed.

Key Dates

What This Means for Consumers

This settlement resolves a 15-year dispute over whether overdraft fees can legally be classified as interest under state law. The lawsuit originally sought up to $452 million in damages and pre-judgment interest. The $240 million settlement represents roughly 53% of that amount.

Eligible Georgia residents do not need to take any action to stay in the class — but they must submit a claim form when it becomes available to receive payment. Class members who do nothing will give up their right to sue SunTrust separately over these claims but will not receive a payment.

Anyone who does not want to be bound by the settlement may opt out by April 20, 2026. Anyone who objects to the settlement terms may submit an objection before the same deadline. Details on both processes are available at the official settlement website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SunTrust settlement about?

 Plaintiffs alleged SunTrust charged overdraft fees on ATM and debit card transactions that functioned as illegal interest under Georgia’s usury laws. After 15 years of litigation — including a U.S. Supreme Court appeal Truist lost — the bank agreed to a $240 million settlement. No wrongdoing was admitted.

Who is eligible? 

Georgia residents who continuously lived in Georgia from July 12, 2010 through October 6, 2017, held a qualifying SunTrust account not closed before June 1, 2010, and paid unrefunded overdraft fees on ATM or debit card overdrafts of $500 or less between July 12, 2006 and April 15, 2014.

How much compensation may I receive?

 Individual payments are estimated between $5 and $1,000, based on how much you paid in overdraft fees and interest. The exact amount depends on the total number of valid claims submitted. No guaranteed payout amount has been announced.

Is a claim form required?

 Yes. You must submit a valid, timely claim form to receive any payment. Claim forms are not yet available. They will be sent by mail and email after the court grants final approval, expected at the May 26, 2026 hearing.

What is the claim deadline?

 The claim form deadline has not yet been officially set. It is expected to be approximately August 2026. The opt-out and objection deadline is April 20, 2026 (postmarked), received by May 4, 2026.

How do I file a claim?

 Claim forms will be mailed and emailed to eligible class members after final court approval. You can also check SunTrustOverdraftClassAction.com for updates. No action is required until claim forms are distributed.

Where is the official settlement website?

 The official settlement website is SunTrustOverdraftClassAction.com. You can also call the settlement administrator at 1-877-239-8765 with eligibility or contact update questions.

What happens if I don’t file a claim? 

If you do not submit a claim form, you will not receive any payment. You will still be bound by the settlement and give up your right to sue SunTrust separately over these overdraft fee claims, unless you opt out of the settlement by April 20, 2026.

Last Updated: February 28, 2026

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Settlement eligibility, compensation amounts, and claim deadlines depend on specific facts and applicable law. For questions regarding this settlement, consult official settlement resources through the settlement administrator website or a qualified attorney. Information in this article is current as of the last update date and may change as the settlement proceeds.

About the Author

Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
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