Covering transaction fees allows you to help cover costs associated with online giving. These costs are generally 3-4% of the total amount given when a debit or credit card is used, and about 50¢ when a checking or savings account is used. Adding 3% to help cover transaction fees helps the church receive the full amount you intended to give. In cases where the actual fees total less than the amount you added to help cover fees, any overage goes to the church and is treated as additional offering that helps cover general expenses of the system.