From Bob Irish, retirement expert, Palm Beach Research Group: Consumers pay an average of $4.35—a new all-time high—for an out-of-network ATM withdrawal. Just to get your own money…

It’s a two-part charge: First, the ATM owner charges you for using the machine. Second, your bank may charge you for going out of network.

But there are steps you can take to avoid paying for the privilege of withdrawing your own cash:

  • Avoid ATMs altogether. Many supermarkets and pharmacies will give you cash back when you use your debit card.

  • Find a bank that will reimburse you for ATM fees. These are generally banks with no (or very few) physical locations. For instance, with First Republic and Ally Bank, you’ll never pay an ATM fee again. And USAA Bank will reimburse your ATM fees up to $15 per month.

  • Look for a bank that’s part of the Allpoint Network. It has 55,000 ATMs and an app to help you find them.

  • Find a credit union that’s part of the CO-OP network. Join the credit union and take advantage of 30,000 ATMs nationwide that won’t charge a fee.

  • Only use your own bank’s ATMs. To find them, download your bank’s mobile app. The branch locator will direct you to in-network ATMs.

  • If you maintain a minimum balance, many brokerage accounts will reimburse your ATM fees. Schwab, Fidelity, and TD Ameritrade have ATM-fee-reimbursement policies.

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