Out-of-network ATM fees are soaring

The out-of-network ATM charge is at a record high.

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published 14 October 2016

The average fee charged by banks for using an out-of-network ATM is now a record $4.57, according to a recent analysis by Bankrate. That means you could pay up to 9 percent on a $50 withdrawal. The average fee has increased every year for the past decade. Experts says the prices keep edging upward because the overall use of ATMs is declining, likely thanks to the increased adoption of mobile payment tools like Apple Pay, Venmo, and others. "The cost of maintaining and upgrading ATM networks gets spread over fewer transactions each year," a Bankrate analyst told CNN.

Of course, there are plenty of workarounds: Rather than paying to access your own cash, you can use most bank apps to find in-network ATMs, and many debit cards offer free cash-back options when you make purchases.