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      What is a pre-authorization hold on my debit card?

      When you pay with your debit card, you may have a “pre-authorization hold” added to your account before the actual charge goes through. Businesses do this to make sure you have the funds available to cover the purchase, especially when the total amount is unknown at the time you use your card.

      For example, when you swipe your card before pumping gas, a pre-authorization hold is put on your account for an amount that’s probably going to be higher than what you’ll actually spend. When you reserve a hotel room, a hold is placed on the account for the cost of the room, plus a little more in case you have additional services during your stay. When you pay for your meal at a restaurant, a hold may be placed for the cost of the meal plus extra for the possible tip. Once the actual amount is known, that number becomes the charge. And once the charge clears your account (typically during the bank’s evening processing), the pre-authorization hold is released.

      Pre-authorization holds often can be considerably higher than what you will actually pay, and may stay on your account for a while (days, in some situations) so be sure you are prepared for this amount to be “on hold” in your account in the interim. Remember, you won’t have access to the excess funds until after the actual charge clears and the pre-authorization is released.

      Example: Joe visits a gas station and swipes his debit card before pumping his gas. The business doesn’t know how much gas Joe will pump, but it assumes the charge will be $50 or under. They place a pre-authorization hold on Joe’s card for $50 to ensure the funds are available. Joe pumps $20 worth of gas. That means there now is an extra $30 on hold in Joe’s account, and he will not have access to that money until the $20 charge clears and the $50 pre-authorization hold is released.

      If you have questions, call Client Care at 1-800-731-2265.