Bankrate surveyed courtesy overdraft protection plans at the top five banks and top five thrifts in the top 10 markets in the U.S. The results also include information on overdraft protection plans that customers can choose instead, which may be linked to a savings account or to a line of credit. The survey was conducted in December by Karen Harrabin of Bankrate’s Research Department.

Survey results Select: Boston Chicago Dallas DC Metro Detroit Houston Los Angeles New York Philadelphia San Francisco New York Courtesy overdraft Overdraft protection Bank name Fee for courtesy overdraft (per item) Limit of coverage Daily fee Bank of America $20 for 1, $35 up to 5 $1000 $0 Chase Bank, NA $35 Depends on relationship w/bank * NY $0 Citibank, NA $30 Depends on relationship w/bank * $0 HSBC Bank USA, NA $35 Depends on relationship w/bank * $0 North Fork Bank $32 Depends on relationship w/bank * $0 Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Assn $25 for 1, $30 for 2 to 4, $35 for 5 or more Depends on relationship w/bank * $25 plus daily charge of 17.9% interest on amount of LOC used Emigrant Savings Bank $25 Must apply for overdraft LOC $0 New York Community Bank dba Queens Co Savings Bank $33 Depends on relationship w/bank * $0 Sovereign Bank New England Not offered N/A N/A Washington Mutual $25 for first 4, then $35 each $100 to approved limit $0 Bank name Fee if linked to a savings account (per item) Fee if linked to line of credit (LOC) Bank of America $10 N/A Chase Bank, NA $10 N/A Citibank, NA $5 N/A HSBC Bank USA, NA $0 N/A North Fork Bank $0 N/A Astoria Federal Savings and Loan Assn. $25 N/A Emigrant Savings Bank $0 N/A New York Community Bank dba Queens Co. Savings Bank $20 N/A Sovereign Bank New England $10 N/A Washington Mutual $10 N/A