Stop Unfair Bank Fees

What's New

Since ATM owners began imposing ATM surcharges on non-customers in 1996, the cost of using another bank's ATM machine has nearly tripled. PennPIRG supports banning ATM surcharges. It's unfair to charge consumers twice to use the ATM only once, and it benefits expensive big banks and hurts small banks with lower fees. Consumers should avoid the surcharges. Use your own ATM or ATMs with "No Surcharge" signs.

Overview

Virtually every bank service, from using a deposit slip to talking with a teller, is being surcharged. Example: the deposit item returned (DIR) fee—charged to folks depositing others' bad checks. Comparison shop for accounts with low or no fees, or fees you can avoid.

Recent data indicate that 12 million families in the U.S. can't afford a bank account. They are forced to use overpriced, virtually unregulated fringe banks—check-cashing stores, pawn shops, and rent-to-own-stores—and bill-paying alternatives like money orders. PennPIRG supports enacting low-cost basic banking laws. Pennsylvania should require banks to offer an affordable checking account, with low startup and minimum balances, and several free transactions monthly. Join a low-cost, member-owned credit union, or open an account at a small bank.

ATM fees are only one of 250 types of fees banks are now charging customers.

ISSUES

Stop Unfair Bank Fees

What's New

Overview