ATM Fees

Getting hit with a fee for using another bank’s ATM is nearly inescapable today. Nearly 98% of large institutions levy surcharges, while 92% of medium-sized institutions and 84.5% of small banks currently impose ATM surcharges on non-customers. According to data released this week by the Federal Reserve, the number of major banks surcharging non-customers for ATM use grew 30% last year with an average surcharge fee of $1.44 per transaction. The average surcharge among medium-sized banks was $1.34, and $1.28 among small institutions. The proportion of banks and savings associations charging their depositors for withdrawals using other institutions’ ATMs was nearly 80% in 2001, up a significant 6% from 2000. The average fee levied by those institutions that charged the fee was $1.17 in 2001.