The consumer finance site CardHub.com predicted the CFPB would begin treating overdraftprotection on checking accounts as a form of credit in 2015, andwould begin requiring financial institutions to treat it thatway.

The site predicted financial institutions would have to evaluatecustomers' ability to repay prior to offering them overdraftprotection, send them regular statements when they use service andstop automatically using incoming direct deposit to pay outstandingnegative balances.

CardHub pointed to the CFPB's 2014 regulations on prepaid cardsas an indication of where the agency will move on overdraftprotection.

The site's forecasts appeared in the site's Credit Predictionsfor 2015 report, which it released Wednesday.

The site also said interest rates on credit cards could rise in 2015, but not more than one or twopercentage points. Credit will become more generally available asthe economy continues to improve and financial institutions seekthe means to gain more interest income, the report said.

Increased credit availability will help push the nationwidecredit card balance to more than $60 billion in 2015, the reportsaid. Outstanding credit card balances are currently projected tohit $54.8 billion by the end of this year.

Cardhub also said cards equipped with EMV chips will becomesteadily more available and used in 2015, but that data breachesand card data thefts would continue nonetheless.