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How to avoid ATM fees

Plus, a look at which banks don’t charge ATM fees or offer refunds.

Yahoo Personal Finance· Getty Images
Ivana Pino
·Senior Writer
4 min read

Checking accounts can come with all sorts of fees — and some fees are easier to avoid than others. One common fee you may encounter is an ATM fee.

Understanding how these surcharges work and how to avoid them ensures you won’t lose any of your hard-earned dollars to unnecessary fees. Here’s what you need to know.

Usually, your bank won’t charge a fee for using one of their branded ATMs. If your bank belongs to an ATM network such as Allpoint or MoneyPass, withdrawals are also typically surcharge-free for customers.

However, if you withdraw cash from an ATM that isn’t part of your bank’s network, you’ll pay a flat fee for each transaction (regardless of the amount of the withdrawal). There may also be fees for making deposits or balance inquiries at out-of-network ATMs. If you’re traveling abroad, your bank may also charge a separate international transaction fee regardless of whether the ATM is part of your bank’s network.

ATM fees vary from bank to bank, but according to a 2023 study by Bankrate, the average cost of an out-of-network ATM fee is about $4.73. Keep in mind that you may also be charged a fee by the third-party ATM operator in addition to your bank’s ATM fee, which can increase the cost.

Here’s a closer look at the out-of-network ATM fees you can expect to pay at a few of the most common financial institutions across the nation. Note that the following fees are for domestic ATMs only and do not include international ATM or transaction fees.

ATM fees may not seem like a big deal, but a few dollars here and there can add up if you make frequent trips to the ATM. Here are a few ways you can avoid ATM fees:

Banks and credit unions often have ATM locator tools available on their websites and/or mobile apps so customers can easily find a fee-free ATM in their area. Rather than withdraw cash from the first machine you come across, do some research to see if you can save yourself a few dollars by visiting an in-network machine nearby.

There are some financial institutions that don’t have their own ATMs or belong to an ATM network. This situation tends to be more common with online banks and neobanks.

That said, you aren’t doomed to pay expensive ATM fees if this is the case. Often, these banks offer ATM fee reimbursements instead and will credit your account for the amount of fees incurred. Some banks offer unlimited ATM reimbursements, while others may reimburse up to a certain amount within the statement cycle.

Read your account agreement carefully to determine if there are certain requirements you need to meet in order to qualify for ATM refunds, such as maintaining a minimum balance or receiving a certain number of direct deposits per statement cycle.

If you have multiple expenses coming up and absolutely have to visit an ATM, try to limit the number of transactions you make. For example, rather than visiting an ATM once a week to make smaller withdrawals, consider withdrawing all the cash you think you’ll need for the month in one lump sum. That way you’ll pay the fee just once (and save yourself the extra trips).

Many retailers offer cash back at checkout for customers who make a purchase with a debit card. There are often limits on how much you can withdraw, but there’s no fee involved. So if you’re stepping into the store for a planned purchase, you can avoid an ATM fee by getting cash back at the register.

Finally, in some cases, you may be able to make a purchase or transfer money using peer-to-peer payment app such as Zelle, Venmo, or Paypal. These allow you to bypass the ATM machine altogether and possibly speed up your payment so that the recipient receives it instantly.

Read more: The best checking account bonus offers and promotions today

You can typically dispute any unauthorized charge in your checking account or savings account, including ATM fees. If you incurred an ATM fee and it wasn’t the result of fraud, you may still be able to request that your bank reimburse you.

Yes. Many banks including Axos Bank, LendingClub, and TD Bank offer unlimited ATM fee reimbursements to qualifying customers.

Yes, you can use ATMs that belong to a different bank than your own. However, making a cash withdrawal at a machine outside of your bank’s network will usually incur a fee.