A method for operating a NVM cell is disclosed. The NVM cell includes a select transistor and a floating gate transistor serially connected to the select transistor on an N well. The floating gate transistor includes a floating gate and a floating gate extension capacitively coupled to an erase gate region. The method includes erasing the NVM cell by applying an N well voltage VNW to the N well, wherein VNW>0V; applying a source line voltage VSL to a source doping region of the select transistor, wherein VSL=0V; applying a word line voltage VWL to a select gate of the select transistor, wherein VWL=0V; applying a bit line voltage VBL to a drain doping region of the floating gate transistor, wherein VBL=0V; and applying an erase line voltage VEL to the erase gate region, wherein VEL=VEE.