Limited and Varying Consumer Attention: Evidence from Shocks to the Salience of Bank Overdraft Fees

Victor Stango and Jonathan Zinman

The Review of Financial Studies, 2014, vol. 27, issue 4, 990-1030

Abstract: We explore dynamics of limited attention in the $35 billion market for checking overdrafts, using survey content as shocks to the salience of overdraft fees. Conditional on selection into surveys, individuals who face overdraft-related questions are less likely to incur a fee in the survey month. Taking multiple overdraft surveys builds a "stock" of attention that reduces overdrafts for up to two years. The effects are significant among consumers with lower education and financial literacy. Individuals avoid overdrafts by making fewer low-balance debit transactions and cancelling automatic recurring withdrawals. The results raise new questions about consumer financial protection policy.

Date: 2014
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Working Paper: Limited and varying consumer attention: evidence from shocks to the salience of bank overdraft fees (2011)
Working Paper: Limited and Varying Consumer Attention: Evidence from Shocks to the Salience of Bank Overdraft Fees (2011)
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