What happens when an overdraft occurs?

When an overdraft occurs, it means that a transaction has resulted in the account balance going below zero. As a consequence of this negative balance, a fee is typically incurred. Many banks impose an overdraft fee as a penalty for allowing the account to go into a negative state. This fee is a way for banks to manage the risk associated with lending the funds necessary to cover the transaction that caused the overdraft.

In this context, while some banks may offer overdraft protection that allows transactions to be completed despite insufficient funds, the action of going overdraft itself triggers a financial consequence, specifically the fee. This fee is generally intended to cover the cost of facilitating the transaction, and also serves as a deterrent against frequent overdrafts.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the nature of an overdraft situation. An overdraft does indeed change the account balance, as it becomes negative; transactions are not always automatically approved without the risk of incurring a fee; and while severe overdraft situations may lead to account closure if not addressed, this is not the immediate outcome of a typical overdraft occurrence.