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ATM fees reached a record high of $4.73 in 2023, up from $1.98 in 1998, according to a Bankrate study. With ATM fees rising steadily each year, it's more important than ever to find a bank with no ATM fees.
Fortunately, many banks will reimburse ATM fees on domestic and international transactions, even when the ATM is outside its network. If you depend on ATM transactions -- and want to save hundreds of dollars in fees -- read on to learn which banks are the best for avoiding these costs.
ATM fees are what banks charge their clients to withdraw or deposit cash at certain ATMs. Often, this fee is imposed when you use an ATM that isn't within the bank's network. In general, they come in three types:
Most banks have a fee-free network, the use of which will never result in an additional charge. The best banks with no ATM fees, however, will go beyond this to reimburse you for any ATM fees imposed at out-of-network ATMs, whether domestic or abroad.
With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the best free checking accounts with no ATM fees.
Axos Bank Rewards Checking
A solid checking account with an APY that far outpaces the competition. The fact that it also has no maintenance fees and no overdraft or NSF fees are the cherries on top.
Rewards Checking disclosure:
To be eligible to earn all or a portion of the cash incentive as part of the promotional offer "RC500," an application for a Rewards Checking account must be submitted between 06/20/2024 at 12:00 am PT and 07/31/24 at 11:59 pm PT.
Axos Bank reserves the right to limit each primary account holder to one (1) checking account promotional offer per year. Promotional terms and conditions are subject to change or removal without notice. Incentive may be taxable and reported on IRS Form 1099-MISC. Consult your tax advisor. After initial requirements above are met, the amount of incentive earned will depend on meeting the additional requirements outlined below:
Rewards Checking bonus up to $500: You must be approved for your new Rewards Checking account and fund it within 60 days of account opening. An incentive of up to $500 can be earned during the first six (6) statement cycles, starting in the statement cycle thirty (30) days after the account is opened. A statement cycle is a calendar month consisting of at least one day your account was open during that month. You can earn a maximum of five (5) payouts during the six (6) statement cycles, and the incentive will be deposited into the qualifying account within 15 business days following the end of the statement cycle in which the requirements were met.
$100 will be earned for each statement cycle, up to $500, when you meet two requirements during that statement cycle: 1) your Rewards Checking account receives qualifying direct deposits at least $1,500.00 in total, and 2) the average daily balance in your Rewards Checking account is at least $3,000.
Your Rewards Checking account must remain open and in good standing at the time the incentive is paid to be eligible.
A direct deposit is an electronic deposit of your paycheck or government benefits, such as Social Security, Disability etc. Other deposits (i.e., online banking transfers, ATM and mobile check deposits, etc.) or person-to-person payments are not considered a direct deposit. Account transactions may take one or more business days from the transaction date to post to the account.
Axos Bank Rewards Checking account holders get unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursements. This fills in for the fact that Axos Bank doesn't have its own network of free-free ATMs. This free checking account also has a tiered APY that increases when you meet certain requirements, like receiving monthly direct deposits and using your debit card.
Quontic High Interest Checking
On Quontic's Secure Website.
On Quontic's Secure Website.
Quontic High Interest Checking earns one of the highest APYs among checking accounts. Unfortunately, you must make 10 qualifying debit card purchases of $10 or more each statement cycle to earn the highest interest tier. Still, the account is a good option to maximize savings beyond other deposit accounts. Plus, it has no monthly fees and access to fee-free ATMs.
10 debit card point of sale transactions of $10 or more per statement cycle required to earn the maximum APY. If the qualifying activity requirement is not fulfilled, the interest rate paid on the entire balance will be 0.01% APY.
Quontic has one of the largest no-fee ATM networks of all banks -- 90,000 through several networks including Allpoint, Citibank, MoneyPass, and SUM. The Quontic High Interest Checking account in particular has a competitive APY (with 10 debit card transactions of $10 each), a debit card, and a unique Pay Ring that lets you check out with a ring on your finger.
Schwab Bank Investor Checking™
The Schwab Bank Investor Checking™ account pays interest and has no monthly fees. It's also a favorite among travelers, as it reimburses all domestic and international ATM fees and doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.
Schwab Bank Investor Checking™ offers unlimited ATM fee reimbursements worldwide. The account has no monthly maintenance fee, earns some interest, has overdraft protection, and charges no foreign transaction fees on its debit card.
Betterment Checking
Betterment Checking is a no-fee account, with generous debit card cash back rewards, and 100% of foreign transaction and ATM fees are reimbursed. It also offers a robust mobile app to help you manage your finances and take advantage of its popular robo-advisor platform. However, it may not be a good fit for those who want to speak to someone face to face and have the need to deposit cash.
Betterment Checking reimburses ATM fees worldwide. Better yet, it will also reimburse any foreign transaction fees on your debit card. This free checking account also earns cash back rewards when using its debit card, a perk that few checking accounts have.
LendingClub Rewards Checking
LendingClub Rewards Checking offers unlimited ATM fee reimbursements worldwide. This account has no monthly fees and can earn some APY when you receive an average of $2,500 in direct deposits.
Capital One 360 Checking
Capital One boasts a top-rated mobile app and has over 70,000 fee-free Capital One, MoneyPass, and Allpoint ATM locations. For those looking for face-to-face interaction, Capital One has over 450 locations and 50 Capital One Cafes, where customers can bank, get a cup of coffee, and ask for advice from a certified money coach. However the APY is lower than other online banks.
The Capital One 360 Checking account has a sizable network and fee-free ATMs. It doesn't charge a fee for using out-of-network ATMs, but it also doesn't reimburse you for any fees that particular ATM may charge. That said, it does allow free cash deposits at CVS and Walgreens of up to $999 per day.
Alliant High-Rate Checking
Alliant is an online-only credit union based out of Chicago; however, anyone can qualify for membership. There is no monthly maintenance fee, no overdraft fees, and no monthly minimum balance requirement. To qualify for the high-yield account, you only need to meet two monthly requirements. It's not a bank, so it's not a member of the FDIC, but Alliant accounts are federally insured through the National Credit Union Administration.
The Alliant High-Rate Checking account has more than 80,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide. It also offers up to $20 in monthly ATM reimbursements, including international transactions (but not foreign transaction fees). Joining Alliant Credit Union could be as simple as becoming a member of the Foster Care to Success ($5 lifetime membership fee).
EverBank Performance℠ Checking
The EverBank Performance℠ Checking is a great fit for those who want no monthly fees. While those with larger balances will benefit the most from this account, just about everyone will appreciate the rare debit card protections and ATM fee reimbursements many other online checking accounts skip.
The EverBank Performance℠ Checking will reimburse all out-of-network ATM fees. But there's a catch: Account holders need to maintain a $5,000 daily balance to get unlimited. Otherwise, account holders will get up to $15 of fee reimbursements each month.
If you're currently paying ATM fees, here's what you can do to avoid these pesky charges.
All in all, you don't have to pay ATM fees if you don't want to. Take a look at the checking accounts above, compare their other features -- like APY, checking account fees, and debit card rewards -- and start saving on ATM fees today.
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