Hanscom FCU MoneyWisdom Blog

What are ATM fees and how do they work?

Written by Bill Burpeau | Apr 11, 2012 7:35:00 PM


Why would anyone want to pay an ATM fee?  According to a 2020 Bankrate study, however, the total cost of an average out-of-network ATM withdrawal was $4.64 in 2020, the lowest it has been since 2016.

What are those fees and how do they work? There are two sources of ATM fees:

The first is a surcharge or convenience fee.  It is charged by the owner of the ATM itself.  These fees appear on the ATM screen.  You must enter YES to agree to it.  It is withdrawn from your account along with your cash and shows up on the receipt. Many financial institutions reimburse their customers for these fees.  When Hanscom FCU members use their Mastercard ATM & Check Card to access their accounts from an ATM in our network, they will never pay a surcharge at these 100,000+ surcharge-free ATMs across the country.

The second source of ATM fees is a transaction fee that is charged by the issuer of your ATM card. This charge will appear on your monthly statement. 

Hanscom FCU is part of the largest network of surcharge-free ATMs that we know of - over 100,000 ATMs across the country and around the world.  

Find an ATM near your home, work, or travel destination.