A Down Side to Overdraft Programs

In one of his earlier columns, Mike Welch made good arguments, pro and con, for overdraft programs. I personally am just terrified of allowing members to get into the habit of writing chekcs on funds that they don’t have because I think it sends the wrong message – live above your means. Has anyone investigated the legality of trying to collect funds that have been extended and not paid back, or do members typically sign some type of agreement covering what action can be taken if they don’t pay? I have always felt that we have some obligation to the surrounding community to shut down people who routinely write bad checks so that we are not facilitating check kiting. I suppose this is a different way of doing this, but I am still finding it hard to swallow. Thanks Mike, for your insight on the issue, Patricia Malatesta CEO Genesis FCU Springfield, Va.