Funds availability rules set maximum hold periods for deposits to consumer and some business accounts, and require disclosure of the institution’s policy.

Next-day availability applies to categories including cash, electronic payments, government checks, cashier’s and certified checks, and a portion of other check deposits.

Case-by-case holds beyond the schedule are permitted with notice.

Exception holds are permitted for new accounts, large deposits above a threshold, redeposited checks, repeated overdrafts, reasonable cause to doubt collectability, and emergency conditions. Reasonable cause requires facts and a written notice stating the reason; a generalized suspicion recorded as reasonable cause is a finding waiting to happen.

Notice content and timing. Hold notices must state the amount, the reason, and when funds will be available, generally at the time of deposit or shortly after.

Disclosures. A written policy disclosure at account opening, and thirty days’ advance notice of changes that reduce availability.

Why it matters beyond compliance. Availability policy interacts directly with overdraft fee exposure and with check fraud losses. Institutions tightening holds in response to check fraud must still work within the exception framework and document each hold on its own facts.