John PotterChannel 2 News
A recent survey found ATM fees are at an all-time high. In fact, millions of Americans are spending hundreds of dollars a year just to get some cash. But those fees can be avoided.
Married couple, Michael and Ashley Bernardi clash over the fees.
"I get mad every time the statement comes and I see the fees and the dollars we don't need to be spending each month." Michael says he avoid ATMs at all costs, "I personally only go to my own bank so I don't get the fees."
But wife Ashley keeps paying them. "There's always an instance when I need cash and an ATM for our bank isn't around," she explains.
Most ATM users know, use a machine that isn't with your bank and you'll probably pay twice. One fee at that ATM and then a second charge from your own bank. Just one transaction can add up to $5 extra.
"If you're making one withdrawal a week and you're making $5 in total ATM charges, you're talking $250 a year that you're needlessly giving up in ATM fees," Greg McBride with BankRate.com explains.
ATM charges have doubled over the past decade and are now at a record-high. But if you don't want to pay ATM fees, you don't have to.
Some smaller banks and credit unions reimburse ATM fees when their customers use another company's machine. "They can go to any ATM and know that it is essentially free," McBride says.
Larger banks help their customers too – offering cash machine locators on their website or you can even download an app on your mobile device that will point you in the right direction.
Knowing this – Ashley says she is changing her ways. "Probably from here on out I won't be going to any other ATMs other than our bank."
