Banks look to overdraft fees as credit card fees decline

As consumers struggle to pay bills, banks stand to collect a record $38.5 billion in customer overdraft fees -- nearly double the amount collected in 2000, the Financial Times reports. Moebs Services data show that the median bank overdraft fee rose from $25 to $26 for the first time during a recession in 40 years.

While banks are raking in fees on overdrafts, their revenues from credit card fees are down. Consumers are either paying on time to avoid late fees or falling behind to the point of delinquency. Whichever choice they make the banks loses out on fees or on write offs.