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 other Australian bank cards |
|---|---|---|
 |
N/A | $0 |
 |
|
$0 |
 |
|
$2 |
 |
|
$0 |
 |
|
$0 at Bankwest ATMs $2.50 at Bankwest ATMs inside 7/11 stores |
 |
|
$2 |
 |
$2.50 | |
 |
|
$2 (Applies to Online Cash Manager and Cash Management accounts that exceed the specified free withdrawal limits) |
 |
|
$0 |
 |
|
$0 |
 |
|
N/A (you will be notified of the cost at specific ATMs before you proceed with a transaction) |
 |
|
$0 |
 |
|
$0 |
 |
|
$0 |
|
|
$0 |
 |
|
$0 |
 |
|
$0 |
*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 two 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.
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 of ATM withdrawals (for non-ATM partner cards) |
|---|---|---|
| rediATM |
Detailed list in FAQ section. |
$2.00 |
| Cash Card (First Data) | N/A | From $2 |
| CashConnect (Banktech) | N/A | Varies based on region and business |
| Customers ATM (DirectCash) | N/A | The surcharge varies depending on amount and transaction volumes |
| Indue Money | N/A | N/A |
| Kwik Cash | N/A | From $2 |
How to avoid paying ATM fees
Read through the following tips to minimise or avoid paying ATM fees.
- Use a partner ATM or any of the big four banks' ATMs. Use an ATM owned by your financial institution or a partner ATM. Check your bank’s website or mobile app for an ATM locator that can advise you of nearby machines you can use for free. During September/October 2017, the four major Australian banks and a handful of others stopped charging ATM fees for out of network cards. As they are typically the easiest ATMs to find, you shouldn't have an issue making a fee-free cash withdrawal with your Australian debit card.
- 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 fee-free debit account. If you want to avoid ATM withdrawal fees, a fee-free debit card is another option. The ING 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 relatively high 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 can consider a credit card that offers 0% interest for an introductory period instead of taking out cash.
Compare 0% Purchase Credit Card Offers
Bank accounts that let you use ATMs for free
My friend is on a pension. Her son moved for work and left his cat with her but said he’d pay for food and would transfer money. She went several times to a rediATM (the only one near her) to see if funds arrived. She was charged $2.50 each time for balance check, not even a withdrawal. Are they allowed to do this?
Hi Sally,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder.
I understand that this situation could be frustrating. There are different ways on how ATMs earn and one of them is charging withdrawal fees. If you use an ATM which isn’t a partner of your card, then it is most likely that you will be charged a fee.
It is important to take note of the name of your card and the ATMs that don’t charge any fee. You can do that by looking at our table on this page. So, for example, if your card is NAB or Macquarie cards and you use RediATM, you won’t have to pay any withdrawal or inquiry fee.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
I understand being charged a fee if withdrawing money, but seems unreasonable to be charged $2.50 for a balance check.
Hi Sally,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
I can understand your frustration. I suggest that every time you check your or your friend’s balance in a cash machine, make sure that they are ATM partners. When we say ATM partners, these financial institutions are partnered together so customers can use any of their ATMs free of charge. Customers are charged $2.50 even doing a balance enquiry and this fee is called “disloyalty” fee for using rival ATMs.
As a friendly reminder, while we do not represent any company we feature on our pages, we can offer you general advice.
I also advise you to contact your bank to verify this info for your peace of mind.
I hope this helps.
Have a great day!
Cheers,
Jeni
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.