The Global ATM Alliance is a joint venture of several major international banks that allows customers of their banks to use their automated teller machine (ATM) card or debit card at another bank within the Global ATM Alliance with no international ATM access fees. Other fees, such as an international transaction or foreign currency fee, may still apply for some account holders. Participating banks cover Australasia, Asia, Europe, Africa, North America and South America.
Participating banks are as follows (however note that some banks, e.g., Bank of America, will only honor ATM reciprocity for one country per bank, e.g., fees will not be charged for Barclays branches in the UK or Deutsche Bank branches in Germany, but fees are charged for branches of those banks in other countries, see "Coverage Areas" below):
- Bank of America (United States)
- Barclays (United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, Pakistan, Gibraltar, Ghana, Kenya, and other countries in Africa)
- BNP Paribas (France)
- BNP Paribas Ukrsybbank (Ukraine)
- Banca Nazionale del Lavoro (Italy)
- Deutsche Bank (Germany, Poland, Belgium, India, Spain and Portugal)
- Scotiabank (Canada, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Guyana, and the Caribbean)
- Westpac (Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands)
- Westpac Banking Corporation (Australia, Fiji, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu)
- Westpac New Zealand Limited (New Zealand)
- Westpac Bank - PNG - Limited (Papua New Guinea)
- Westpac Bank Samoa Limited (Samoa)
- Westpac Bank of Tonga (Tonga)
- Absa (South Africa)
Bank-specific rules and information
Bank of America account holders
There are two separate fees that may apply to Bank of America account holders using their ATM card or debit/check card in a foreign country:
- The 3% International Transaction Fee/Foreign Currency Fee - not waived under the Global ATM Alliance.
- The US$5 Non-Bank of America International ATM Fee - for transactions at non-Bank of America ATMs in a foreign country (also called the International ATM (Access) Fee) - waived under the Global ATM Alliance.
Coverage areas
For Bank of America account holders:
The Non-Bank of America International ATM Fee is waived for account holders using their ATM card or debit/check card at ATMs in the Global ATM Alliance within specified coverage areas:
Additional banks
In addition to the Global ATM Alliance banks in the coverage areas listed above, Bank of America has arrangements for Bank of America account holders to be able to use their ATM cards or debit/check cards in China at Alliance member Scotiabank or China Construction Bank ATMs (mainland China only, China Construction Banks in Hong Kong are not included) and in Mexico at Banco Santander with no ATM Operator Fees or Non-Bank of America International ATM Fees (aka International ATM Access Fee).
Otherwise, when using an ATM card or debit/check card in a foreign country at a non-Bank of America ATM outside of the Global ATM Alliance, China Construction Bank, or Banco Santander, Bank of America may charge its account holders a non-Bank of America International ATM Fee (aka International ATM Access Fee) of US$5 for each withdrawal, transfer, or balance inquiry.
Bank of America International Transaction Fee
For transactions in currencies other than U.S. dollars when using a Bank of America ATM card or debit/check card, Bank of America may charge its account holders an International Transaction Fee (Foreign Currency Conversion Fee) for purchases or ATM cash withdrawals regardless of whether the transaction occurs within the Global ATM Alliance or outside the Global ATM Alliance. For each ATM cash withdrawal, this International Transaction Fee is 3% of the U.S. dollar amount (as of November 8, 2013), and for each purchase, this International Transaction Fee is 3% of the U.S. dollar amount. This fee appears as a separate item on the Bank of America account holder's banking statement for each international transaction.
Westpac Bank account holders
When withdrawing cash from Westpac savings or transaction accounts at overseas ATMs, the usual Overseas ATM Cash Withdrawal Fee of A$5/NZ$8 is waived at ATMs of participating Global ATM Alliance partners in the following countries:
For Westpac savings or transaction accounts, withdrawals in a foreign country using ATMs not listed above incur the A$5 Overseas ATM Cash Withdrawal Fee.
Westpac Foreign Transaction Fee
Westpac account holders may incur a Westpac Foreign Transaction Fee (aka Foreign Currency Conversion Fee) of between 2.2% and 3% that is incorporated into the A$ transaction amount shown on the account holder's banking statement for transactions that occur in a foreign currency. A fee of 3% of the A$ transaction amount is incurred where a transaction is made in a foreign currency and the merchant or financial institution accepting the card is located outside of Australia (consisting of a 2% Westpac Processing Fee plus a 1% Westpac On-Charged Scheme Fee). A fee 2.2% of the A$ transaction amount is incurred where a transaction is made in a foreign currency and the merchant or financial institution accepting the card is located in Australia (consisting of a 2% Westpac Processing Fee plus a Westpac On-Charged Scheme Fee of 0.2%).
Barclays account holders
A customer can withdraw cash from a Barclays account from a cash machine in the Global Alliance without transaction charges. If the customer uses a cash machine that isn't in the Global Alliance or use a Barclaycard, additional charges apply.
For Barclays account holders:
BNP Paribas account holders
Consorsbank (Germany) customers are eligible for free cash withdrawals from ATMs operated by:
- Bank of America (USA) - BNP Paribas (France) - BNL Banca Nazionale Del Lavoro (Italy) - Barclays United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands) - Deutsche Bank - Scotiabank (Canada and the Caribbean) - Westpac Bank (Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Cook Islands, Papua New-Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands) - UKRSIBBank (Ukraine)
Deutsche Bank account holders
For Deutsche Bank account holders:
Scotiabank account holders
Similar to Bank of America, Scotiabank only waives the ATM fee at partner institutions for certain countries. The Scotiabank website includes a table with a column title "Going to" and a column title "Use this ABM". The specific combination of each country and each bank are the only ATMs where the fee will be waived. For instance, for BNP Paribas, the fees will only be waived in France and some French Overseas Departments and Territories but not waived in Italy, Belgium, and Luxembourg where BNP Paribas also operates.
External links
- Bank of America
- Bank of America: FAQs: ATMs and ATM Fees
(Note: scroll down to the section "Using your ATM card or debit card in foreign countries" and click on the question "What is the Global ATM Alliance?") - Bank of America ATM and Banking Center Locator
- Bank of America Schedule of Fees - June 5, 2009
- Bank of America Schedule of Fees - California - June 5, 2009
- Bank of America: FAQs: ATMs and ATM Fees
- Westpac
- Westpac - Accessing your accounts overseas
- Westpac Terms and Conditions - Deposit Accounts for Personal Customers - 1st June 2009
- Westpac Media Release: Global ATM Alliance
- Scotiabank
- Scotiabank - Global ATM Alliance
- Five big banks form Global ATM Alliance
- French bank joins new Global ATM Alliance
- BNP Paribas joins global ATM alliance
- UkrSibbank- Global ATM alliance
- BNL d'Italia Bank Locator
References/Citations
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