Overdraft Explosion: Bank fees for overdrafts increase 35% in two years, by Leslie Parrish, Center for Responsible Lending, October 6, 2009. Summary Findings:

• “Finding 1: Over 50 million Americans overdrew their checking account at least once over a 12-month period, with 27 million accountholders incurring five or more overdraft or non-sufficient funds (NSF) fees.
• Finding 2: Banks and credit unions collected nearly $24 billion in overdraft fees in 2008.
• Finding 3: Overdraft fee income for banks and credit unions rose 35 percent from 2006 to 2008.”