How You Can Avoid Paying Those Annoying ATM Fees

It’s no secret that ATM fees can be a real pain. If you’re not careful, you can easily end up paying $3-$5 just to withdraw your own money. But there are some easy ways to avoid these fees.

1. Use the ATM at your bank or credit union. If you have an account with a bank or credit union, you can usually avoid fees by using one of their ATMs. Most banks and credit unions don’t charge their own customers for withdrawals, so as long as you use one of their machines you should be in the clear.

2. Use a “no–fee” ATM. There are a number of banks and credit unions that have ATMs that don’t charge fees. To find one near you, search online for “no–fee ATM” or “surcharge–free ATM.”

3. Withdraw cash back when you make a purchase. If you use a debit card to make a purchase at a store, you can often get cash back without paying any ATM fees. Just ask the cashier if they offer cash back, and how much they charge for it.

4. Get cash ahead of time. If you know you’ll need cash at some point, it can often be cheaper to withdraw it from an ATM in advance. That way, you can avoid any fees that might be charged for using a different ATM.

5. Use a mobile app. There are a number of mobile apps that allow you to withdraw cash from ATMs without paying any fees. One popular option is the Cash app, which allows you to withdraw money from any ATM that accepts Visa.

If you follow these tips, you should be able to avoid paying ATM fees altogether. And if you do end up paying a fee, it should be a rare occurrence.