Overdraft fees at the nation's 14 largest banks have increasedafter two years of stagnation, according to a new survey releasedThursday by the Consumer Federation of America.

The two-year period of flat fees coincided with theimplementation the Federal Reserve's opt in provision of RegulationE, which requires financial institutions to receive consumerapproval prior to debit card and ATM overdrafts.

While the typical overdraft fee remains at $35 per transaction,two of the largest banks, U.S. Bank and Fifth Third Bank, have announced changes to theirtiered fee structures that indicate rates will rise.

“Big bank overdraft fees for a single transaction are very high,ranging from $33 to $37 at the largest banks,” said Jean Ann Fox,director of financial services for CFA. “Consumers can be chargedup to $370 in one day, according to the maximum fee and daily limitfee policies that banks have.”

Five banks – Fifth Third, PNC, RBS Citizens, SunTrust and U.S.Bank – charge tiered fees that vary depending on how manyoverdrafts are incurred in a 12-month period.

Starting in late June, Fifth Third Bank will charge $37 peroverdraft after a $25 fee is assessed for an initial overdrafttransaction. This replaces the bank's current policy ofcharging a $33 fee for the second, third, and fourth overdrafts ina 12 month period.

The CFA survey found that almost two-thirds of banks chargesecond or per-day fees if consumers do not repay overdraftsimmediately.

The survey also revealed changes regarding overdraft processingorder. As recently as 2010, CFA found that almost all majorbanks paid transactions from the largest to the smallest received,or reserved the right to do so.

Since 2010, several banks have changed their processing orderpolicies, notably paying time-stamped transactions in the orderthey are received, before processing checks and other transactionsfrom largest to smallest.

According to the survey, the highest cost for a $100 overdraftloan repaid in two weeks, if computed like a closed-end paydayloan, is 2,779% APR at RBS Citizens Bank. Fifth Third Bankpreviously held the record for the highest overdraft charge, at3,250% APR, but this rate will drop to 962% on June 27, when thebank will discontinue charging a daily sustained overdraft fee.

“Bank overdraft loans are a form of payday lending,” Foxsaid. “Banks are charging staggeringly high rates forshort-term borrowing when fees are computed the same way paydayloans are calculated.”

Fox urged consumers to tell the Consumer Financial ProtectionBureau about their bank overdraft experiences and encourage thebureau to “crack down on these abusive loans.”

Comments on overdrafts are due to the CFPB by June 29.