How To Avoid Paying ATM Fees

ATM fees are on the rise. But surprisingly, so are the people willing to pay them! I can understand being caught without enough cash that occasionally you have to bite the bullet and pay a fee. But there are some steps you can take to make sure it doesn't happen on a regular basis.

The first step is simple. Use your own bank. Many people say if the ATM doesn't have their banks's logo on it, they simply won't use it. It's one of the benefits of banking at a larger institution. More branches, more ATM machines.

Another easy way to avoid fees is to get cash back on purchases. Grocery stores and many retail locations like Wal-Mart and Target offer the cash back option. Go buy a pack of gum and then go $20 over. It beats going to an out of network ATM and paying a fee twice that amount.

If you're considering switching banks, find one that won't charge you fees. Online banks like Ally and Bank of the Internet reimburse you your ATM fees. Not all banks will give you all your money back. Some only reimburse up to a certain level, so read the fine print carefully!

Simply put, plan ahead. Don't let not having any cash cost you more than it should!

[via AOL]