Know exactly what you’ll pay when using your card to withdraw money from an ATM.
If you're using an ATM that belongs to your bank, or a bank in its alliance, you will not be charged an ATM fee to withdraw cash. If you find yourself needing to use an ATM out of your network, you could be charged ATM fees for the convenience. See the table below for a list of fees for the majority of Australian institutions.
Australian bank ATM fees and charges, partnerships and alliances
| Institution | ATM partners | Withdrawal fee for non-customers (when applicable) | Balance check fee (when applicable) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANZ | N/A | $1 | $1 |
| Bank of Melbourne |
| $2 | $2 |
| Bank of Queensland |
| $2 | $2 |
| BankSA |
| $2 | $2 |
| Bankwest |
| $2.50 at Bankwest ATMs $2 at Bankwest ATMs inside 7/11 stores | $2.50 at Bankwest ATMs $2 at Bankwest ATMs inside 7/11 stores |
| bcu |
| $1 | $1 |
| Bendigo Bank |
| $2.50 | $2.50 |
| Citi |
| $2 (Applies to Online Cash Manager and Cash Management accounts that exceed the specified free withdrawal limits) | $2 (Applies to Online Cash Manager and Cash Management accounts that exceed the specified free withdrawal limits |
| Commonwealth Bank |
| $2 | $2 |
| Heritage Bank |
| $0 | $0 |
| HSBC |
| N/A (there is no exact figure, but you will be notified of the cost at specific ATMs before you proceed with a transaction) | N/A |
| IMB |
| $0 | $0 |
| Macquarie Bank |
| $0 | $0 |
| ME Bank* |
| $0 | $0 |
| NAB |
| $2 | $2 |
| St.George |
| $2 | $2 |
| Suncorp Bank |
| $2 | $2 |
| Westpac |
| $0 (If part of Global ATM Alliance network and Westpac Group partners) | $0 (If part of Global and non-Global Alliance partners) |
*Excluding St.George ATMs operated by a third party, for example St.George ATMs located inside BP service stations.
You can use the above table to see whether or not your bank has a list of ATM partners that you can enjoy free ATM withdrawals from. To help you compare the costs, we’ve separated the table into three key categories:
- ATM partners. These financial institutions are partnered together so customers can use any of their ATMs free of charge.
- Withdrawal fees. This charge may be applied when you use a non-partnered ATM in Australia, or for accounts that have a limit on free transactions.
- Balance check fees. This fee may be charged for checking your account balance at a non-partner ATM in Australia.
The biggest ATM networks in Australia
Independently owned ATM machines
Except rediATM, which is owned by Cuscal, these independent ATM networks can be owned by individuals or syndicates who have purchased a lease off an ATM operator. If you use an ATM from an independently owned operator such as Cash Card, the fees and charges are set on a contract-by-contract basis. This means fees can vary between machines, even if they have the same branding. The fees for withdrawals and balance checks start from $2 but could be as high as $3 or $4.
| Institution | ATM partners | Cost for ATM withdrawals(for non-ATM partners) | ATM balance check fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| rediATM |
A more detailed list of rediATM partners is provided in the frequently asked questions section of this article. | $2.50 | $2.50 |
| Cash Card (First Data) | N/A | From $2 | From $2 |
| CashConnect (Banktech) | N/A | Varies based on region and business | Varies based on region and business |
| Customers ATM (DirectCash) | N/A | The surcharge varies depending on amount and transaction volumes | The surcharge varies depending on amount and transaction volumes |
| Indue Money | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Kwik Cash | N/A | From $2 | From $2 |
How to avoid paying ATM fees
Read through the following tips to minimise or avoid paying ATM fees.
- Use a partner ATM. Make sure you use an ATM owned by your financial institution or a partner ATM. For example, St.George cardholders can make free ATM withdrawals at BankSA, Bank of Melbourne and Westpac ATMs in Australia. Check your bank’s website or mobile app for an ATM locator that can advise you of nearby machines you can use for free.
- Use mobile banking. Save time and money by checking your balance online. Many mobile banking applications let you check your account balance by logging into your online account. Mobile banking is free to use (excluding data charges) and you can check your account balance anywhere and anytime. In some cases, you may be able to transfer money directly from an app and eliminate the need for cash completely.
- Use a global alliance ATM if you’re overseas. Westpac are part of the Global ATM Alliance. Westpac Group cardholders (Bank of Melbourne, BankSA and St.George) can make withdrawals for free at a huge number of international ATMs. For example, use a BNP Paribas ATM if you’re in France or Barclays Bank ATM if you’re in the UK and you can avoid the fee for international ATM withdrawals. What’s more, most ATMs in Europe don’t charge a local ATM operator fee, so the main charges you’ll incur will be from your own bank if you don’t use a partner ATM.
- Use a free-free debit account. If you want to avoid ATM withdrawal fees, a fee-free debit card is another option. The ING Direct Orange Everyday Account, the ME Bank Everyday Transaction Account and the Citibank Plus Everyday Account all offer fee-free withdrawals to cardholders. However, some of these debit cards have terms and conditions regarding when you’re eligible for fee-free withdrawals, so make sure to read the terms and conditions before applying.
Using your credit card to withdraw from an ATM can be a convenient way to get cash, but it comes at a cost. If you plan to use your credit card (or even debit card) for ATM withdrawals, understanding which ATM machines belong to an ATM alliance can help you save in the long run. As credit card ATM withdrawals also incur cash advance fees and interest rates (as well as the standard ATM withdrawal), you might want to reconsider using your plastic to get cash. Otherwise, you might want to consider a credit card that charges low or no cash advance fees to cut down on costs.
Bank accounts that let you use ATMs for free
Frequently asked questions
What is a direct charge?
This is another name for an ATM fee. A “direct charge fee” is what you’ll pay when you use an ATM outside your financial institution’s ATM network.
Do ATMs display ATM fees that they charge?
If you’re using an ATM as a non-customer, the ATM you’re using displays the ATM fees before you proceed with your transaction. At this point, you have the option to continue or simply take your card and leave.
Who has the largest ATM network?
Reserve Bank data puts DC Payments as the largest ATM operator in Australia. Based on the RBA’s data from July 2015, the 10 biggest ATM networks in Australia are as follows:
| ATM network provider | Number of machines in Australia |
|---|---|
| DC Payments | 7,251 |
| Cash Card | 4,691 |
| Commonwealth Bank and Bankwest | 3,822 |
| rediATM | 3,089 |
| Westpac and St.George | 3,055 |
| ANZ | 2,606 |
| CashConnect | 1,857 |
| Next Payments | 1,080 |
| Bendigo Bank | 868 |
| Suncorp Bank | 681 |
Who are the rediATM partners?
rediATM operates one of the largest ATM networks in Australia, partnered with over 100 banks, credit unions and mutuals, including:
- AMP Bank
- Australian Defence Credit Union
- Bank of Queensland
- bankmecu
- Community First Credit Union
- Defence Bank
- Family First Credit Union
- First Choice Credit Union
- Gateway Credit Union
- Greater Building Society
- Holiday Coast Credit Union
- Horizon Credit Union
- IMB
- Illawarra Credit Union
- Intech Credit Union
- Liberty Financial
- Lombard Finance
- Memberfirst Credit Union
- My Credit Union
- MyState Financial
- NAB
- Northern Beaches Credit Union
- People's Choice Credit Union
- Police Bank
- QT Mutual Bank Limited
- Queenslanders Credit Union
- Southern Cross Credit Union
- Teachers Mutual Bank Limited
- Virgin Money
- Woolworths Employees Credit Union
My son was charged an ATM operator fee of $8.00 for a withdrawal which I think is extremely excessive. Is this a rip-off or are the non-bank ATMs that charge this much?
Hi Linda, thanks for your question!
Usually, ATM operators charge fees to non-partner banks and unfortunately these fees are usually high especially when you use the independent ones. So as much as possible, you have to look for an ATM where you can withdraw funds from your own bank’s ATM or ATM alliances.
Cheers,
May
hi i am wondering if i am able to use commonwealth atm to withdraw cash from my bendigo account and will it cost me also wondering if bendigo bank Atm’s in tasmania have the cardless cash option as i have just opened an account with bendigo bank and wont have my card for up to 10 days
Hi Deborah, thanks for your inquiry!
Unfortunately Bendigo Bank does not currently have a cardless cash option. Without a card withdrawing from a Commonwealth Bank ATM would not be supported. The cost for withdrawal from a non Bendigo Bank/ Suncorp ATM from a Commonwealth Bank ATM is $2.00 .
Cheers,
Jonathan
sorry I have just asked a question and lost the possible reply..(re ATM matters for my ASB Auckland account
HI Gordon. I’ve sent something to your email. Jacob.
If I use my ASB New Zealand card for cash withdrawals in Australia. First of all is that OK and, if so, what will the cost be, if any, of a withdrawal ?
Hi Gordon. Thanks for your question. You should be able to use your New Zealand Card at Australian outlets / merchants where Visa, MasterCard or American Express are accepted. There may be a cost, usually a cash advance fee, cash advance interest rate, cross currency conversion fee, international ATM fee and local ATM operator fee ($2.00-$2.50) when you use your card to make a withdrawal from an ATM and a cross currency conversion fee and purchase rate of interest when you make a purchase. Please check with your credit card issuer and the credit contract you received when you got the card for a full list of international fees and charges. Jacob.