What is an Availability Float?

When a person writes a check, sends it in the mail, and waits for a person or company to deposit it, there is a certain amount of time involved in the money being actually deducted from the person's checking account. Similarly, if a check is accepted from someone and is deposited in an account, the bank may impose certain rules about when that money becomes available, particularly if the check is large, or comes from a private person or foreign entity. This time, either waiting for money to be deducted or added to an account, is called an availability float.

During the time of an availability float, where a person is waiting for someone else to deposit a check, the money in the check writer's bank is still at his disposal. It is not a good idea for him to use it, however, and he may want to record it in his check register to make certain that he doesn't bounce a check. How long an availability float on a check will last cannot always be accurately determined. A company could quickly deposit a check, or not receive or deposit it for a week or more. A person should not use the availability float funds because they have already been allocated.

Similarly, most banks have policies about availability floats on money that is deposited in the form of checks. Some banks, particularly when the account holder has an extended history with the bank, will give him instant access to the money, and no availability float time is assessed. In other cases, checks from private parties, unless they initiate from the same bank, may mean money is not immediately available.

Banks may impose a waiting time of one or more days, usually not exceeding a week, before funds become available. Alternately, an account holder may only be able to access a portion of the funds until the check has cleared. People should be cautious regarding spending money that has not yet been credited to an account so they don't write bad checks.

Online and ATM banking has significantly changed availability float times. If a person uses an ATM card, funds are usually immediately deducted from his bank account. There are certain systems in place that treat checks in exactly the same manner. If someone writes a check to a store, the funds might be deducted right away, instead of having any availability float time.

On the other hand, when a check is mailed, at least one day of float is usually guaranteed, since even if the check goes to someplace in the same town, it has to be processed and usually cannot arrive until the next day. If a person knows a direct deposit is going to be in his account on the following day, he can usually safely assume he has enough availability float to mail a check the day before, even if the funds are not in the account yet. People should still observe caution when employing this method; all manner of accidents could cause even a direct deposit paycheck to be delayed.