what is the average fee charged by large banks for using an out-of-network atm?
Large U.S. banks typically charge about 2.50–3.00 dollars as their own fee when you use an out‑of‑network ATM, but your total cost per withdrawal is usually closer to 4.75–4.90 dollars on average once you include the machine owner’s surcharge.
Quick Scoop
- Big banks often set their out‑of‑network ATM withdrawal fee in the 2–3 dollar range , with many clustering around 2.50–3.00 dollars per transaction.
- On top of that, the ATM owner commonly adds a surcharge of just over 3 dollars , pushing the average total out‑of‑network fee to roughly 4.75–4.86 dollars per withdrawal in recent nationwide surveys.
- In practical terms, if you grab cash from a random non‑network machine a few times a month, you could be spending 50–70 dollars a year just on these fees.
Why the “average fee” is confusing
When people ask “what is the average fee charged by large banks for using an out‑of‑network ATM?”, they’re usually mixing two different charges:
- Your bank’s out‑of‑network fee
- This is what your own bank charges you for going outside its ATM network.
- For big U.S. banks, this is commonly around 2.50–3.00 dollars per withdrawal.
- The ATM owner’s surcharge
- This is what the bank or company that owns the ATM charges non‑customers.
- Recent data shows average surcharges a little above 3.15–3.22 dollars.
Put together, recent studies put the average combined out‑of‑network ATM cost at about 4.77–4.86 dollars per transaction , a record high level in the last couple of years.
Quick example story
Imagine you’re traveling, it’s late, and the only nearby ATM belongs to a bank you don’t use. You withdraw some cash:
- Your large bank charges you about 2.50–3.00 dollars for going out of network.
- The ATM itself adds just over 3 dollars as a surcharge.
- You end up paying around 5 dollars just to access your own money once.
If you repeat that a few times this month because it’s “only a couple of bucks,” those little charges quietly add up.
How banks and averages look in practice (illustrative)
Below is a simplified snapshot of how this plays out across major banks and national averages:
| Item | Typical / Average Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Large bank out‑of‑network fee | $2.50–$3.00 | Common posted fee range at big U.S. banks. | [7][1]
| Average bank’s own out‑of‑network fee | ≈ $1.58–$1.64 | Average across many institutions, including smaller banks. | [3][5]
| Average ATM owner surcharge | ≈ $3.15–$3.22 | Charged by the ATM operator to non‑customers. | [5][3]
| Average total out‑of‑network cost | ≈ $4.77–$4.86 | Combined fee (your bank + ATM owner), record highs in recent surveys. | [10][8][5]
Trend and “latest news” angle
- Over roughly the last 20–25 years, the combined out‑of‑network ATM fee has more than doubled, climbing from under 2 dollars to nearly 5 dollars.
- Recent studies describe these fees as being at or near record highs , with averages just shy of 5 dollars per withdrawal in the mid‑2020s.
In other words, the “convenience” of using the closest ATM instead of a network machine is now priced like a small subscription tax on your own cash.
How to think about it for yourself
If your question is practical (“What should I expect?”), a safe rule of thumb in 2026 is:
- Plan on your large bank charging about 2.50–3.00 dollars for an out‑of‑network withdrawal.
- Assume the total hit after the ATM’s surcharge will be around 5 dollars unless you bank with an institution that refunds ATM fees.
TL;DR:
The average fee charged by large banks themselves for using an
out‑of‑network ATM is usually around 2.50–3.00 dollars per withdrawal ,
but your average total cost per out‑of‑network withdrawal in the U.S. is
now roughly 4.75–4.90 dollars once the ATM owner’s surcharge is included.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.