Say no to ATM charges for life

Don't mean to beat a dead horse, but I've been attracted to free ATM surcharge machines, considering that before, I was using a local credit union and getting raped on ATM charges when using a debit card. I since defaulted back to my primary bank of years ago, Navy Federal Credit Union, and here is what is happening with the ATM's.

For starters, they now co-op with alot of places, such as Costco, Sams, Walmart, other credit unions, seven eleven stores, in my local area. I recently was in Miami and punched in their co-op locator ATM's and found plenty around such as PUBLIX, Walgreens and many more real close to my hotel. I have known other people that banked with local credit unions and their selection of co-op surcharge free atm's were either not present or you had to really go find these places, usually other credit unions.

I know other banks or credit unions offer better co-op atm's depending on which bank you belong to. Ever since I ditched a debit card and went with a visa check card, my ATM fee situation has dwindled, only used a non-co-op place one time, in the last six months or so, cost me total 2.75. I have since made up that fee in dividends since I use FLAGSHIP checking, which basically means that if I keep a certain amount in my checking, I get far better dividends than savings or checking offers. So how many banks do you know where you actually come out ahead in dividends versus ATM charges?

We may not be talking much in terms of convenience or gas money, or yearly amount but every little bit adds up and we all know paying ATM fees really suck don't they? Don't have to be a member of NFCU as I am to have that kind of good deal. I was searching SMARTFINANCIAL credit union which is up the street, and thei'r surcharge free co-ops are just as good as mine. But I see others that really stink, including PENTAGON, ALLIANT, or VYSTAR. Vystar is a local Jacksonville credit union, great if you live in Jacksonville, and lots of Vystar credit unions there, but once you leave town, your ATM's are zapped with fees due to the lack of co-ops. Pentagon was limited in Miami to DADE FEDERAL CREDIT UNIONS. So you couldn't use a fee ATM at the grocery store like Publix such as I could with NFCU.

So investigate your bank and see what kind of atm fees you are paying and understand your bank/credit union co-op situation. So to non-free ATM machines, take your ATM fees and shove it, I aint comin there no moah!

We get our fees refunded. USBank and USAA (which we use overseas). It makes a HUGE difference for INT travel, since he needs cash all the time and credit card conversion fees for foreign currency are insane.

USAA boast about the refunded ATM fees ect.....but its kind of fuzzy math to me. Charge you the fees but reimburse you at the end of the month? Wierd. I like using co-ops and there are plenty around no matter where you go with NFCU. I am kinda biased with NFCU, been a member almost 24 years. Also, NFCU is a credit union. USAA is really a bank. Don't trust banks per say, as I am a fan of credit unions. (I do understand that USAA is exceptional and an outstanding bank that passes dividends out to their members with P&C insurance.)
However, I do use USAA for the homeowners/auto and now flood insurance....(or filed with their web site for flood insurance to go via FEDS.) Excellent web user friendly stuff. Don't have the USAA credit card, only need one. NAVFED Platinum is all I need in a credit card.

Boast?? what does that mean? It's fact I was willing to share. Nothing fuzzy, nothing weird--here you go:
Most ATM's overseas have fees--no fee/no money.
We get the fee refunded on every use--as soon as the ATM withdrawal is posted, the fee is refunded, so it's simultaneous.
Same thing with USBank. agree w/you on USAA for ins--they are exceptional at customer service.

Sorry, what I mean is USAA members boast about their free ATM fees as a big argument for USAA banking. And so does the USAA advertising. They boast about free ATM's or REFUNDED atm fees. They are quick to point that out as a selling point. That's what I meant about it. (Nothing wrong with that and didn't mean it negatively in any way.)

The "FUZZY MATH" I was talking about is the fact that they initially charge you the atm fee, but somehow, at the end of the month, they redistribute it to you. I felt that this was fuzzy math because, WHY not JUST NOT charge you the fee? Or co-op with other banks so you can use your ATM card limitless and nothing to redistribute to you later because you were never charged for in the first place?

It's like saying "Come on in for a FREE ice cream at Baskin Robins, but you have to pay 2.50 for the ice cream, but don't worry, we will send you a check for 2.50 in the mail". That's a FREE ICE CREAM? Hope this clarifies somewhat?