I use Southtrust Bank which has just been bought out by Wachovia. I went to the bank today to ask them which banks they are affiliated with in Boston. I explained I was going on vacation and did not want to pay fees to access my money. They basically replied, "TOO BAD!"
There is no Wachovia in Boston and they do not have any affiliates.

Maybe I should talk to someone a little higher up. (Who?)

Maybe I should switch banks? (which one?)

I find it a little hard to swallow that I am expected to pay fees for using an ATM not my own from BOTH my bank and the one I will use just because I want to be able to travel and STILL have access to my money!! (It's bad enough THEY get to tell ME how much of my own money I am allowed to take out every day)

[-(

Please tell me how you get around this.

Hi Wallace and Gromit, aren't banks wonderful. I am in the same situation. I do like my bank however they are not all over the US. So guess the answer is to take out a checking account with a bank that has ATM's pretty much everywhere. I am going to do that, but the checking account at the new bank will be for travel only.

PLEASE let me know which one you choose ... I leave for vacation on May 16 (I'll be a week in Toronto and then off to Boston) Hopefully I can get something settled before then.

Hi Wallace and Gromit, I don't think I will do this before the time you leave on your trip.

You are where? I do not know which banks we have that are in Canada but sure others here will know. I am thinking of Wells Fargo, US Bank as starters. But I, like you, want to know if they have ATM's all of the US. I suggest you pull our your telephone book, go to the yellow pages and look under Banks. Call the various banks with your questions. Saves a lot of time instead of running from bank to bank and waiting in line etc. BTW, the one bank I will not utilize is Bank of America. To not like them for various reasons. Also, go on their websites, again this will be a time saver.

Good luck, and let me know what you decide. Think a lot of us have the same situation btw.

Good question. I am lucky in that I live in Pittsburgh and bank at National City which also has banks in 8 different states basically surrounding my state of PA and extending to MI and KY. Do some research on banks by calling them and asking them how many states to they have branches in. I wouldn't recommend getting non-bank ATM money out - my bank charged me big time with this along with the non-affiliated bank charging $1.75 per transaction.

How much ca$h do you actually use on vacation, rather than just putting your hotel and other major expenses on a credit card? And how often do you GO to the ATM? For a one-week vacation, aren't we talking about maybe two withdrawals at most, costing you $2 or $3 each? How much trouble is it really worth to avoid such a fee? Here in the Boston area, most ATMs charge $1 to $1.50 for a noncustomer transaction.

One way to get money out of your debit card without paying a fee is to use it for a purchase and ask to get cash back -- most grovery stores will do this, although they have a maximum amountof about $50.

My bank (TCF) does have locations in other states, but I don't know how extensive the network is. But, we are allowed a certain number (not sure what it is) of withdrawals from other banks' ATMs per month without paying a fee to TCF. Check into this option with your local bank. Our checking account there is free.

I always use the "cash back" option at grocery stores when traveling. When I see a store I pop in to buy a Diet Coke or something small and get $100 back. No ATM fees and I get the Diet Coke I would have purchased anyway!

In the South, Publix Supermarkets have a ATMs outside that do not charge fees, maybe there is a chain in Boston that may offer the same type service...

I'd vote for shop around. My bank recently announced that there is no charge at any AT M in the country when using their card. And they pay 10 cents every time I use that card (VISA) for purchases. I don't like to use it for goods and services, but it's great for gas/groceries/restaurants around town.

I've always been happy with BankofAmerica as I find ATMs for them nearly everywhere I go, except oddly enought in New York City, where until this past year there were NO BankofAmerica's. I saw several going in last year, so will be glad on my next trip. And in addition my account at BofA allows me two withdrawals a month at no fee from any unrelated ATMs (although of course, they can't control if those other banks will charge me). And frankly, I've never understood why unrelated banks WOULDN'T charge me, since they do not have my money and there is some "paperwork" involved in releasing money to me and then collecting it from my bank.

If you have an idea of how much you'll need in cash, why don't you just purchase some travelers checks (AAA - no fee I believe)and then you can cash them at any bank.

BTW I hate ATMs. I refuse to pay a fee to get my money.

Your problem is not that the bank at which you are using the ATM is charging you - you;re using their service - they should charge you. Your problem is that your own bank is charging you to get your own money out - what gives them the right to do that? Mine doesn;t - and Citibank isn't giving anything away. Would definitely change banks right away to one that doesn;t charge you fees for anything.

Anonymous,
Not everyone has a credit card. I have a checkcard and a Paypal Mastercard debitcard.
I will be in Toronto and Boston and places like my B&B are cash only. (Lots of places I want to eat at are cash only etc.)
Also, I am on a tight budget. Even IF my total fees are only $6 - that's $6 I rather be spending somewhere else.

Nytraveler,
I NEVER said I was upset about another bank charging me. I completely understand. I just stated the fact that they would charge me ... I shouldn't have to pay fees on my bank and theirs. (and they claim that only allowing you to take out a certain amount of money per day is for security, but I think they do realize that the more we have to use the ATM, the more $ for them)

My comments about using credit cards apply exactly the same to your "PayPal Mastercard debit card" -- you can use that anyplace Mastercard is accepted, presumably with no extra fees.

I think it's time to realize that convenience comes at a cost. If you want money at the spur of the moment, you are going to have to pay for it. Those machines have to be paid for, maintained, and refilled.

If you don't want to pay the fees, than take out $1000 before you leave your little burg, or use a debit card, or use credit cards. Otherwise, we are talking about fees that are the same as a Starbucks coffee.

While this may not help the OP, I just thought I would post it for anyone in the NJ, NY, PA area. Commerce Bank recently eliminated all ATM fees when you use their Visa Check Card. Not only do they not charge you a fee to use another bank's ATM, they will refund any fee that the other bank may charge you. The only catch is that you must have a checking account with a minimum daily balance of $2500.

I do not know of any way to get around the situation you describe--talking to someone higher up at your bank would be a waste of time. Most banks have the same policy, sad to say.

Your only option is to shop around for a bank that will not charge these fees and transfer your account there, assuming you travel enough to make this effort worthwhile.

Otherwise, use the work-arounds described above: get cash at grocery stores, risk carrying lots of cash with you from home, bring paper checks and hope they'll be accepted, or buy traveler's checks (which will cost you money, too).

I hear that you're on a tight budget, but IMO, $5-10 in ATM charges, while irritating in principle, are part of the cost of vacationing away from home.

Good luck, and enjoy your trip!

I use Commerce Bank here in NJ, but who in their right mind will keep $2500 in their checking account just to save a dollar or two for using someone else's ATM on an occasion or two?

Most ATM's that I have used only charge a buck or two. I just take more money out at a time and use them less when I'm traveling.

I've never had a problem getting cash back at grocery stores- some drugstores and discount stores will also give cash back, but not usually as much as a grocery store.

You will have to decide if it is worth it to you to possibly go out of your way or take more time to find a store with cash back. I know if it was just me and DH traveling, we'd pay the ATM fee. With kids, we always need to hit a grocery or discount store anyway. I don't like to pack a week's worth of diapers. And last trip, darling daughter announced on day two that she was out of socks - she accidentally packed her sister's instead of her own.