ATM fees on foreign debit/ATM cards? When ATM's first came about we were told they were there because they were not labor intensive and saved money and so were free. Then some banks started charging fees for accessing YOUR money (waived of course for high rollers). Then banks caught on they could charge fees if you had the nerve to use their machines to withdraw from another bank's account. And up and up and up went the fees. When all this bs started, both cirrus and plus specifically exempted "foreign" that is from a different country cards from fees.

But banks have found ways around these rules en masse. Were the rules changed allowing the fees? Didn't see anything to that affect but I might have missed it. Or are the banks routing these transaction over networks different from cirrus and plus that allow these fees. I know about 10 years ago this was a fact and a Canadian replied they had been knicked for the fee despite making a withdrawal with their Canadian debit card at a US ATM. Cirrus and plus prohibited (I think they still do) these fees but somehow the transaction was being routed over STAR or some other shared teller network that allowed the fees.

My fidelity debit card and my Charles Schwab debit card presumably rebate these fees but I would have to check if the reimbursments are restricted to USA transactions. Just another way banks try to screw their customers.