Can it be that there is no law in the US that forces the banks to display ALL their fees on their website??? That's hard to believe, maybe they're only hidden somewhere.

I agree NeoPatrick. But it looks good as a general guide and to show how the system works. Things change so rapidly that one should check directly with ones bank or card company anyway. Banks buying up other banks and such. And I think we only know for SURE when we get home and see out statements.

Even if the bank posts its general policies you still have to read the 2 pages of tiny tiny disclaimers. *applies to premium account holders only. **if processed with xyz service. **** only on tuesdays ********free applies to Feb 29th transactions only.*** and so on. Mind boggling!!

<i>Commerce Bank sounds great though and we were thinking of getting a new local bank. Someone I think posted that they give you back the transaction fees? Does this mean if you use your Commerce ATM card at say Bank of America and BOA charges you $2 to access cash, Commerce will reimburse the $2? If that's right - that's fantastic! And I think I really do need to make the switch.</i>

Sally, I didn't think that was right, so I contacted Commerce. Their response was: &quot;All non-commerce ATM fees will be refunded if you maintain a minimum daily balance of $2,500 in a qualified Commerce personal checking account.&quot;

Most of the WAWA's and other convenience stores have free ATM's to entice you into the store. I also get cash back when shopping at the local grocery stores. ((b))

Budman - Thanks! We really need to get serious about switching. This thread has been so helpful on so many levels.

Sally

Interesting how I just found this thread today. I recently got a notice with my Chase CC statement of a class action lawsuit against Visa and MasterCard for the foreign transaction fees. So I guess I have to tally up my spending from each account from 1996-2006 and file a claim. Even ATM /debit cards with Visa or MC logo apply.

Anyone know anything about this?
The website for it is www.ccfsettlement.com

I always find these settlement thingys confusing.

&quot;Most of the WAWA's and other convenience stores have free ATM's to entice you into the store.&quot;

I'm still working on what WAWA means, but I've never heard of free ATMs in convenience stores either in the US or in Europe. I was under the distinct impression most of those charged a fee -- anywhere from $2 to $5. Am I mistaken?

So what does that &quot;non commerce&quot; fee mean? They reimburse fees charged by other banks (like most US banks charge for non client withdrawals)?

A Wawa is like a 7/11 convenience store. The newer ones are huge with a large gas station attached -- 5-6 lanes with dual pumps on both sides, and they pump for you here in NJ. They are all over New Jersey, PA, and now I'm seeing them sprout up in MD and VA. They have an ATM inside every store I've gone into, and they do not charge an ATM fee.

Yes, they reimburse fee charged by other banks. So, if I went to a BofA ATM machine and it prompted me that I would be assessed $2 for the transaction, Commerce Bank would reimburse that, <b>if</b> I kept a balance of $2500 in my checking account. That I don't do.

Also, USAA Bank will reimburse up to $10 a month in ATM fees when using out-of-network banks. ((b))

That's interesting about WAWA (are they owned by Barbara Walters?) not charging a fee.
I was going to save a trip to my bank ATM and started with one at the local 7-11 one evening, but I stopped when it told me the fee would be $5. I decided the five block trip to my bank would be worth doing.

My 2 cents - A lot of talk about a few $'s. If you can't afford 20 to 30 $'s you might as well stay home. For goodness sake, don't be so cheap to fret over such a small insignificant amount. You will spend more on unneeded bottled water!

There are also endless discussion on &quot;tipping&quot; here. It all depends on you personal preferences :D

Since the two of us will go through close to $8000 cash (particularly for apartment payments) during our two months in Europe this summer, 3% difference on ATMs could mean nearly $250. To some of you, that may be pocket change to just throw away, but if I could easily arrange not to spend that, I would go to a little effort not to. Sorry if you consider that being cheap, rogerdoger. I consider it being sensible.

&lt;&lt; to fret over such a small insignificant amount. You will spend more on unneeded bottled water!&gt;&gt;
...just what the bank execs hope you will say. In fact you probably didn't think that all up by yourself...I bet your bank manager told you that.
Interesting how times change... When I was a kid it used to be &quot;just for the price of a pack of cigarettes a day....'
Then it changed to &quot;for the price of a cup of coffee....&quot;
Now it's water. LOL.

I was at Commerce Bank yesterday and opened a new account -- as a 'backup' to my primary account. My dh will carry that card and I carry a different card tied to a different bank in case of problems.

I was told:
Wawa's do not have ATM transaction fees - they are actually PNC ATM's but Wawa has a contract with PNC where they are totally free ATM's and no fees will be assessed. So that is always a great place to withdraw cash (pretty smart marketing move on part of Wawa, huh?)

Commerce Bank will absorb the 1% Visa transaction fee and does not have the 2% foreign exchange fee - however, I don't remember if this is for debit transactions only and whether or not this is for the 'Free' checking or the '$2,500 daily balance' checking (I don't remember the real names).

My thoughts are to put enough money in the account while we are traveling - so that we are higher than the $2,500 daily balance and get all our transaction fees refunded. That assumes that once you have that amount you are automatically switched to the 'better' checking account.

One bonus for Commerce Banks: free notary (to account holders and non-account holders) and open weekends (yes, Saturday and Sunday) - and yes, that is a 'real' teller, not just an ATM.

No commerce banks in SW Florida!

I just read this whole thread and concentrated really hard and I still don't know what is best. I have BofA and I have to pay cash for my hotels. With the $5 fee they charge for each withdrawal, if I make 10, I can figure out that math, but what else? Percentage fees on top? I hate math class.

I have now emailed BofA twice to get an official acknowledgement of whether they are now adding 1% or 3% for their foreign currency ATM withdrawals. I'll let you know what I find out, if I do!

I have mentioned before that this past summer they added 1% for them, but whenever I checked against the rates, I found that they had discounted the rate by 1% before adding that 1% back on. This was compared to both the XE rates for the dates of posting, as well as compared to the actual base (before the Visa 1% was added) on my credit card transactions for the same date. I couldn't find out if that was because of my &quot;advantage account&quot; I have with them which has a number of benefits or what it was.

surfmom,

<i>My thoughts are to put enough money in the account while we are traveling - so that we are higher than the $2,500 daily balance and get all our transaction fees refunded. That assumes that once you have that amount you are automatically switched to the 'better' checking account.</i>

If you travel overseas (Europe) you don't have to worry -- there are no ATM/transaction fees from the European banks or Commerce, no matter how much you have in your checking account. ((b))

NeoPatrick, I think your money needs are very different from the norm. During my solo trip this past November I used my credit card to pay for 4 nights lodging and cash for the other four. I made two withdrawals from the ATM's and quite frankly I didn't check to see if I was charged a fee or not. I maintain a high balance, around $10,000, so my quess is that I wasn't charged. However, my point stays the same, I am not going to fret about a small sum, heck I will spend more on buying a round of pints at the next local pub I visit. PS, I am an old guy, saved my money when young and now I spend it fairly freely.

roger - you must be a solo traveller, staying in in 35 GBP B&amp;B's and eating in pubs...
I figure &euro;15k a year on travel in Europe. Now change that into $Canadian and mutiply by 3.5%.