8 Best Banks to Avoid ATM Fees
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Want to save some money each time you use the ATM? Think about changing your bank.
If you use out-of-network ATMs even twice a month, you could find yourself paying more than $60 per year in ATM fees from your bank and the ATMs’ owners. But not all banks charge for easy access to your cash — and some even reimburse you for ATM fees.
Check out our list of banks that reimburse ATM fees or otherwise help you avoid ATM fees.
Why you can trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the financial accounts that work best for you. See our criteria for evaluating banks and credit unions.
Want to save some money each time you use the ATM? Think about changing your bank.
If you use out-of-network ATMs even twice a month, you could find yourself paying more than $60 per year in ATM fees from your bank and the ATMs’ owners. But not all banks charge for easy access to your cash — and some even reimburse you for ATM fees.
Check out our list of banks that reimburse ATM fees or otherwise help you avoid ATM fees.
Why you can trust NerdWallet: Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage to help you choose the financial accounts that work best for you. See our criteria for evaluating banks and credit unions.
Best Banks to Avoid ATM Fees
| Bank/institution | NerdWallet rating | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
 Alliant Credit Union Learn more at Alliant Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUA | Best for Credit union with free domestic ATM access | Learn more at Alliant Credit Union, Federally insured by NCUA |
 Axos Bank® | Best for Online bank with free domestic ATM access | Read review |
 Schwab Bank | Best for Free worldwide ATM access | Read review |
 Consumers Credit Union | Best for Credit union with free domestic ATM access | Read review |
 LendingClub Bank | Best for Online bank with free international ATM access | Read review |
 Quontic Bank | Best for Online bank with free domestic ATM access | Read review |
 EverBank | Best for Online bank with free domestic ATM access | Read review |
 Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association | Best for Online bank with free domestic ATM access | Read review |
Our pick for
Credit union with free domestic ATM access
Why We Like It
Free ATMs: Alliant Credit Union provides fee-free access to more than 80,000 ATMs through third-party networks, plus up to $20 in ATM fee rebates each month.
Accounts with the perk: Both Alliant checking accounts, High-Yield Checking and Teen Checking.
Keep in mind: Alliant accepts cash deposits at some, but not all, in-network ATMs.
Why We Like It
Free ATMs: As part of the Co-op ATM Network, Consumers Credit Union offers free access to more than 30,000 ATMs. You’ll also be reimbursed for any ATM fees if you use an ATM outside of the network, with no cap.
Accounts with the perk: Rewards Checking.
Keep in mind: ATM fee refunds are available if you meet the minimum requirements for Rewards Checking, including receiving direct deposits and eStatements and making at least 12 debit card purchases monthly. Student Choice Checking also reimburses ATM fees, but it has a monthly cap. Foreign transaction fees apply for using ATMs outside the country.
Membership requirements: To be eligible to join the credit union, you have to become a member of Consumers Cooperative Association, which requires a one-time $5 membership fee that the credit union reimburses.
Our pick for
Online bank with free domestic ATM access
Why We Like It
Free ATMs: At any ATM in the U.S., Axos won’t charge a fee, and they’ll reimburse you any fees the ATM owner charges.
Accounts with the perk: Rewards Checking, CashBack Checking and Essential Checking.
Keep in mind: Golden Checking and First Checking reimburse ATM fees, too, but they have monthly caps on the amount you can get back. And Axos charges a 1% fee for international ATM withdrawals and debit card purchases.
Why We Like It
Free ATMs: As part of multiple ATM networks including Allpoint, MoneyPass and Citibank, Quontic Bank offers fee-free access to more than 90,000 ATMs.
Accounts with the perk: Both Quontic checking accounts, High Interest Checking and Cash Rewards Checking.
Keep in mind: Quontic doesn’t accept cash deposits.
Why We Like It
Free ATMs: As part of both the Allpoint and MoneyPass ATM networks, EverBank (formerly TIAA Bank) offers fee-free use of more than 80,000 ATMs, plus reimbursements for up to $15 in out-of-network ATM fees each month. There’s no limit to the number of ATM fee reimbursements for accounts with average daily balances of at least $5,000.
Accounts with the perk: Yield Pledge Checking and Yield Pledge Money Market accounts.
Keep in mind: For cash deposits made at ATMs that aren’t owned by the bank, funds of up to $5,525 aren’t available until five business days later, and funds over that amount aren’t available until eight business days later.
Why We Like It
Free ATMs: E*TRADE, an online brokerage and banking platform owned by Morgan Stanley Private Bank, doesn’t charge for withdrawals from any ATM and has unlimited ATM fee refunds nationwide. Its premium account, Max-Rate Checking, broadens the refunds allowed to ATMs worldwide.
Accounts with the perk: Checking and Max-Rate Checking accounts.
Keep in mind: E*TRADE charges a foreign transaction fee of 1%, so international ATM withdrawals aren’t fully free for Max-Rate Checking account holders. Max-Rate Checking, unlike Checking, has a monthly fee, though it can be waived with a $5,000 average monthly balance.
Our pick for
Free worldwide ATM access
Why We Like It
Free ATMs: With Schwab, you have free access to any ATM worldwide. Rebates are unlimited, and unlike all of the other banks on this list, Schwab doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee.
Accounts with the perk: High Yield Investor Checking Account.
Keep in mind: Schwab doesn’t accept cash deposits. It’s also mainly an investment company, and the checking account must be linked to a Schwab One brokerage account. You can open both accounts at the same time.
Our pick for
Online bank with free international ATM access
Why We Like It
Free ATMs: LendingClub won’t charge a fee to use a non-network ATM anywhere in the world, and it will reimburse you for any fees you’re charged by the ATM owner at the end of your statement cycle.
Accounts with the perk: Rewards Checking.
Keep in mind: While LendingClub reimbursements do apply worldwide, you’ll still be charged a foreign transaction fee for using your card abroad.
Don’t see your bank on this list of best banks to avoid ATM fees? Here’s what to do
Many of these bank accounts have other perks, such as no monthly fees. But if you don't want to switch banks, remember that nearly any financial institution will let you withdraw money for free from its own ATMs, and many now have apps that help you locate the nearest free ATM. Often, credit unions, online banks and community banks participate in nationwide shared ATM networks such as Allpoint and MoneyPass, too.
3 national banks’ large ATM networks
Most ATM access at online banks and credit unions relies on third-party networks, requiring an extra step of knowing which ATMs are in which network. Either you’d use an ATM locator on the institutions’ mobile app or website or become familiar with certain third-party ATM logos. However, several of the largest banks in the U.S. have sizable ATMs that are strictly their own, logos and all. Here are the top three:
Chase: More than 15,000 ATMs.
Bank of America: About 15,000 ATMs.
Wells Fargo Bank: About 11,000 ATMs.
What is an out-of-network ATM fee?
An out-of-network ATM fee is a service fee a bank charges you when you use an ATM that isn’t part of its network. In addition to your bank charging you an out-of-network ATM fee, the owner of the ATM you use might also charge a service fee.
How much is an out-of-network ATM fee
A typical out-of-network ATM fee from a national bank can be about $2.50 or $3 per instance. If you use an out-of-network ATM even just twice a month, you could be subject to as much as $72 in fees in one year.
How can I avoid out-of-network ATM fees?
You can avoid being charged out-of-network ATM fees in two main ways:
Using only ATMs owned by your bank.
Getting cash back when you use your debit card to make a PIN-based purchase from a retailer, though the maximum amount may be lower than at an ATM.
» MORE: Learn how to avoid ATM fees
What is an ATM fee reimbursement?
Some banks offer ATM fee reimbursements or refunds, which means that they credit your account for ATM fees you’re charged. For example, if you use an out-of-network ATM and are charged a fee by its owner, your bank would credit your account for that fee.
What are the banks that reimburse ATM fees?
From our list of the best banks to avoid ATM fees, the institutions that reimburse ATM fees are Alliant Credit Union, Axos Bank, Charles Schwab Bank, Consumers Credit Union, E*TRADE, EverBank, and LendingClub Bank.
Last updated on December 19, 2023
Methodology
We took a close look at over 90 financial institutions and financial service providers, including the largest U.S. banks based on assets, internet search traffic and other factors; the nation’s largest credit unions, based on assets and membership; and other notable and/or emerging players in the industry. We rated them on criteria including annual percentage yields, minimum balances, fees, digital experience and more.
To determine the best institutions for avoiding ATM fees, we considered the following factors: the size of a fee-free ATM network, ATM fee reimbursements and out-of-network ATM fees (or the lack of fees). We focused on the highest number of ATMs in a network and the biggest scope of fee reimbursements (domestic and international).
Financial institutions and providers surveyed are: Affirm, All America Bank, Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, Amalgamated Bank, America First Credit Union, American Express National Bank, Andrews Federal Credit Union, Associated Bank, Axos Bank, Bank of America, Bank5 Connect, Bank7, Barclays, Bask Bank, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, BMO, BMO Alto, Boeing Employees Credit Union, Bread Savings, BrioDirect, Capital One, Carver Federal Savings Bank, Charles Schwab Bank, Chase, Chime, CIBC U.S., CIT Bank, Citibank, Citizens, Citizens Bank, City First Bank, Climate First Bank, Commerce Bank, Community First Credit Union of Florida, ConnectOne Bank, Connexus Credit Union, Consumers Credit Union, Current, Delta Community Credit Union, Discover Bank, E*TRADE, EverBank (formerly TIAA Bank), Fifth Third Bank, First Foundation, First National Bank, First Tech Federal Credit Union, Flagstar Bank, FNBO Direct, Global Credit Union, GO2bank, Golden 1 Credit Union, Greenwood, Hope Credit Union, Huntington Bank, Industrial Bank, Ivy Bank, KeyBank, Lake Michigan Credit Union, LendingClub Bank, Liberty Bank, Live Oak Bank, M&T Bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Navy Federal Credit Union, NBKC, One, OneUnited Bank, Pentagon Federal Credit Union, PNC, Popular Direct, Quontic Bank, Regions Bank, Revolut, Salem Five Direct, Sallie Mae Bank, Santander Bank, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Security Service Federal Credit Union, Securityplus Federal Credit Union, Self-Help Credit Union, Service Credit Union, SoFi, State Employees’ Credit Union of North Carolina, Suncoast Credit Union, Synchrony Bank, TAB Bank, TD Bank, Truist Bank, U.S. Bank, UFB Direct, Upgrade, USAA Bank, Varo, Vio Bank, Wells Fargo and Zynlo Bank.
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Best Banks to Avoid ATM Fees
- Alliant Credit Union: Best for Credit union with free domestic ATM access
- Axos Bank®: Best for Online bank with free domestic ATM access
- Schwab Bank: Best for Free worldwide ATM access
- Consumers Credit Union: Best for Credit union with free domestic ATM access
- LendingClub Bank: Best for Online bank with free international ATM access
- Quontic Bank: Best for Online bank with free domestic ATM access
- EverBank: Best for Online bank with free domestic ATM access
- Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association: Best for Online bank with free domestic ATM access
