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What is a Stop Payment Fee?

Hidden fees are an unfortunate reality of banking. Learn more about Stop Payment Fees and how to avoid them.
2 min read
Hidden bank fees can be a real pain, and one of the best ways to avoid them is by learning why and when they happen. Stop payment fees aren’t as common as many other hidden fees, but they can be just as costly. N26 doesn't charge stop payment fees or other types of hidden fees, but we’ve made it our mission to help you understand the ins-and-outs of money management. By understanding common hidden fees, you can have peace of mind and learn to manage your money on your terms.

What is a stop payment fee?

When you request that your bank cancel a payment or check that has not been processed yet, you are requesting a “stop payment.” Financial institutions may charge you a stop payment fee for this service.

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But why would you ask your bank to cancel a purchase that you made or a check that you wrote? There are a few different scenarios where a stop payment request can be useful:
  • You write a check but lose it or mail it to the wrong address. The check could be anywhere and you’re worried that someone might try to cash it in fraudulently. You contact your bank and put a stop payment on the check so that no one can cash it.
  • You sign up for a recurring monthly subscription via automatic debit payment that you no longer want. You’ve contacted the subscription service to cancel the charge, but they haven’t done it. You contact your bank and put a stop payment on the charge.

How much is a stop payment fee?

Stop payment fees vary from bank to bank. According to ValuePenguin by LendingTree, they can be anywhere between $15 and $35, and the average cost is about $30 for each stop payment order. 

Does N26 charge this fee?

No. N26 does not charge stop payment fees or other hidden fees, including maintenance fees, or minimum balance fees. 

How can you avoid stop payment fees?

The easiest way to avoid stop payment fees, is opening an account that doesn’t charge these kinds of fees. We understand that life happens, and sometimes stressful situations are unavoidable. We certainly don’t want to add to that stress by charging you to do what’s best for your money.

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