Methods of fabricating nonvolatile memory devices are provided. An
isolation layer is formed on a substrate. The substrate has a memory
region and a well contact region and the isolation layer defines an
active region of the substrate. A gate insulating layer is formed on the
active region. The gate insulating layer is patterned to define an
opening therein. The opening exposes at least a portion of the well
contact region of the substrate and acts as a charge pathway for charges
generated during a subsequent etch of the isolation layer. Related memory
device are also provided.