AMERICANS are being charged record fees to use out-of-network ATMs.
ATM fees for 2025 have hit $4.86, up from $4.77 in 2024, which marked a record high for the third consecutive year.
Fees for using out-of-network ATMs have risen again in 2025[/caption]
An out-of-network ATM refers to a machine that is not operated by the bank itself, but rather a third party business.
The fee is compromised of two main costs, firstly the average 2025 surcharge of $3.22 that is implemented by the companies that operate ATMs.
That fee has risen for the fourth year in a row, and is up from $3.19 in 2024.
The $4.86 average fee also accounted for the average surcharge of $1.64 charged by one’s own bank for using an out-of-network ATM.
This increased from $1.58 last year, the highest amount charged to customers since 2018.
Stephen Kates, a Financial Analyst for the outlet Bankrate, said that the fees are rising because ATMs are becoming less commonly used.
Kates also offered a solution to Americans on how to avoid these out-of-network charges.
He said: “As ATMs become less frequently used, associated fees are likely to rise.
“Consumers can most easily avoid these fees by banking with institutions offering wide ATM networks or reimbursing out-of-network ATM charges.
“An increasing number of online banks and brokerages now reimburse ATM fees, regardless of the machine used.”
BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS
Out of the 25 metropolitan areas that the outlet surveyed, Atlanta, Georgia, was found to be the place that charged the highest out-of-network ATM fee for 2025.
This has been the case for the past several years.
Since 2022, the Atlanta out-of-network ATM charge ranged from $5.33 to $5.38.
Following Atlanta is Phoenix, Arizona with an average total ATM fee of $5.35.
Highest average ATM cost for 2025
- 1 Atlanta $5.37
- 2 Phoenix $5.35
- 3 San Diego $5.31
- 4 Detroit $5.25
- 5 Cleveland $5.21
- 6 Miami $5.11
- 7 Tampa $5.05
- 8 (tie) Los Angeles $4.99
- 8 (tie) San Francisco $4.99
- 10 (tie) Pittsburgh $4.98
- 10 (tie) Cincinnati $4.98
- 12 Milwaukee $4.96
- 13 St. Louis $4.95
- 14 Houston $4.93
- 15 Chicago $4.85
- 16 Denver $4.81
- 17 Dallas $4.73
- 18 New York $4.72
- 19 Kansas City $4.70
- 20 (tie) Washington, D.C. $4.56
- 20 (tie) Baltimore $4.56
- 22 Minneapolis $4.45
- 23 Philadelphia $4.43
- 24 Seattle $4.42
- 25 Boston $4.37
In third place for 2025 is San Diego, California with an average cost of $5.31.
HIDDEN FEES
Americans need to be wary of the hidden fees that major banks are charging them.
Institutions like Bank of America, Chase Bank and Wells Fargo charge customers for things like paper statements, closing accounts and fees on overdrafts.
Many banks now charge upwards of $5 a month for customers who opt to receive paper bank statements instead of digital ones.
The cost of closing an account varies depending on what bank is being used, and can be as little as a $1 surcharge.
And according to Bankrate’s survey, the average cost of taking out an overdraft is $26.77 this year.
This average cost has decreased roughly 1% from last year, when it was $27.08.
