October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsPC HealthRecommendedCrashes, freezes, slowdowns? Check your PC nowSpot repairable issues before they interrupt work.Check PCOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
The Finance Base
The Money Desk · Blog
Re:

How to Check Whether You Qualify for the Non-Bank ATM Surcharge Settlement

A practical checklist for determining whether an independent-ATM surcharge may qualify for the Non-Bank ATM Surcharge Settlement, including transaction dates, account type, reimbursement, records and filing steps.
From TheFinanceBase Team10 min to read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

You may qualify for the Non-Bank ATM Surcharge Settlement if, in the United States, you withdrew cash from a deposit account at an independent (non-bank) ATM between October 24, 2007, and August 14, 2026, paid an ATM surcharge, and your bank did not fully reimburse that surcharge. A valid claim must be submitted by February 10, 2027.

Eligibility is determined by the settlement’s full class definition, not by the headline fund amount. Use the checks below to compare your transactions and records with the official wording, then file through the official claim page if you meet the requirements. The settlement site also describes separate statewide classes for California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Michigan.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

What the ATM fee settlement covers

The case concerns alleged network rules that prevented independent ATM operators from charging lower access fees on certain transactions. The defendants deny wrongdoing. The matter is being resolved through a settlement, so the allegations are not a court finding that the defendants violated the law.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The settlement fund is $167.5 million. That figure is the total fund, not a promised payment to each claimant. If the settlement becomes final, eligible claims are expected to share the available money on a pro rata basis. Your payment will depend on the number of valid claims and other settlement-administration factors.

The official settlement website controls the current class definition, notices, deadlines and status. A dated summary from ClassAction.org reports preliminary approval on August 14, 2026, a final-approval hearing scheduled for February 17, 2027, and distribution after final approval and resolution of any appeals. Check the official site for changes before filing or relying on that schedule.

Do I qualify for the ATM settlement?

Run each test separately. Missing one required element can put a transaction outside the class, while uncertainty on one point is a reason to check your records or ask the administrator rather than assume you are excluded.

Eligibility question What generally qualifies What to verify
Where were you and the ATM? You were in the United States and used a qualifying ATM located in the United States. The complete class wording and any state-specific definition on the official site.
When did the withdrawal occur? Between October 24, 2007, and August 14, 2026, inclusive according to the stated transaction period. The transaction date in an account statement or transaction history.
Who owned the ATM? An independent operator, rather than a bank or other financial institution, owned the terminal. The ATM branding, location records, receipt, or operator information.
What account and card were used? Cash came from a deposit account through an ATM or PIN-debit card transaction. Whether the entry was a debit withdrawal, not a credit-card cash advance or another excluded product.
Was there a surcharge? The ATM or transaction imposed an access fee. The separate fee line on a receipt, statement or account history.
Was the fee reimbursed? The bank did not fully reimburse the surcharge. Whether a later credit covered all, part or none of the fee.
Did you file on time? A complete, accurate claim is submitted by February 10, 2027. Your submission confirmation, mailed-form tracking and a copy of the claim.

1. Confirm the location requirement

The nationwide class concerns people in the United States and qualifying terminals located in the United States. A withdrawal made while you were abroad, or at a terminal outside the United States, may not fit that class even if your account was held at a U.S. bank.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

California, Illinois, Massachusetts and Michigan are also identified on the settlement site as having separate statewide classes. State classes can have wording that differs from the nationwide definition. If your transaction or residence connects to one of those states, read the state-specific section instead of assuming the nationwide language answers every question.

Keep the distinction between your residence, your physical location when withdrawing cash and the ATM’s location. If a statement identifies only a merchant or city, use a receipt, ATM locator record or the administrator’s instructions to clarify the terminal’s location.

2. Check the transaction date

A qualifying withdrawal must fall in the stated period from October 24, 2007, through August 14, 2026. Use the posted transaction date, not the date you happened to download a statement or notice the fee.

Rank #2
Sale
The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness
  • Ideal for Gifting
  • Ideal for a bookworm
  • Compact for travelling

Older records may use abbreviated descriptions or post a withdrawal one business day after it occurred. Preserve the record as it appears, and do not alter a date to make it fit. If the transaction date is unclear, request historical records from your bank and explain the date issue in any space the current claim form provides.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

3. Determine whether the ATM was independent

The key ownership test is whether the terminal was owned by an independent ATM operator rather than a bank or financial institution. A machine inside a convenience store, restaurant, hotel, nightclub, pharmacy or other business is not automatically independent, and a machine outside a bank is not automatically independent. Location alone is not conclusive.

Useful ownership clues

  • Look at the ATM name, screen branding and receipt for an operator name or customer-service number.
  • Check the storefront or venue’s records if the machine was located inside a privately owned business.
  • Compare the ATM’s surcharge description with the bank’s own ATM-fee description.
  • Search your archived emails, photographs or expense records for the terminal’s identifying information.
  • Ask the settlement administrator how to document an ATM whose ownership cannot be established from your statement.

A bank may show only a generic “ATM fee” entry. That label confirms a charge but does not, by itself, prove who owned the terminal. Do not treat an unfamiliar bank name in the transaction description as proof either; it could identify the processing institution rather than the ATM owner.

4. Verify the account and card type

The covered activity is a cash withdrawal from a deposit account using an ATM card or PIN-debit card. In practical terms, the money should have been drawn from a checking, savings or comparable deposit account through a debit transaction.

The transaction categories described in the settlement materials exclude credit-card transactions, credit-card cash advances and prepaid-card transactions. A cash withdrawal that appears on a credit-card statement is therefore different from a debit withdrawal that reduces a deposit-account balance, even if both occurred at an ATM.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

How to tell which transaction you made

  • Check the account type on the statement: deposit-account activity normally appears in checking or savings history.
  • Look for debit or PIN language rather than a credit-card cash-advance entry.
  • Match the withdrawal to the account balance that decreased when the cash was taken.
  • Separate ATM withdrawals from point-of-sale debit purchases that did not dispense cash.
  • Exclude prepaid-card activity unless the current official definition expressly says otherwise; the settlement summary identifies prepaid-card transactions as outside the defined cash-withdrawal category.

If you moved money between accounts and then withdrew cash, the relevant event is the ATM withdrawal itself. Keep both records if they help show that the withdrawal came from a deposit account.

5. Find the surcharge and calculate reimbursement

You need evidence that an ATM surcharge or access fee was charged. A receipt may show the fee separately; a statement may list it as an ATM fee, surcharge or a second debit connected with the withdrawal.

Fully reimbursed, partly reimbursed or not reimbursed

What happened How to treat it when screening a claim
No reimbursement The surcharge remains an unreimbursed fee, subject to all other class requirements.
Partial reimbursement Do not describe the fee as fully reimbursed. Preserve the original charge and the smaller credit; ask the administrator how the claim form wants partial credits reported.
Full reimbursement The stated eligibility screen excludes a surcharge that the bank completely reimbursed.
Monthly or annual fee waiver Review the account terms and the ledger. A general fee waiver may not equal a transaction-specific credit, so obtain clarification if you cannot connect it to the ATM surcharge.

For example, a $3.00 surcharge followed by a $1.00 bank credit is not the same as a fully reimbursed $3.00 fee. Record the original amount, the date and amount of any credit, and the remaining unreimbursed amount. The claim form’s current instructions control how those figures should be entered.

Gather records before you file

You do not need to prove every historical withdrawal before checking eligibility, but organized records reduce errors and make an administrator inquiry easier. Start with the period in which you most likely used independent ATMs, then expand your search if your records reveal qualifying transactions.

What’s actually slowing this PC down?

Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Records to look for

  • Checking or savings statements showing the cash withdrawal and surcharge.
  • ATM receipts, especially those naming the operator or showing the fee.
  • Online-banking transaction exports and archived monthly statements.
  • Bank messages showing ATM-fee refunds or courtesy credits.
  • Travel, cash-register or expense records that identify the ATM location.
  • Correspondence about account fee policies or reimbursement limits.

For a long period, create a simple list with the transaction date, ATM location, operator if known, withdrawal amount, surcharge, reimbursement and source document. The list is for your accuracy; submit only the information and supporting material the current form requests.

How to file an ATM settlement claim

The settlement provides an electronic route and a printable paper form. Use the official claim page for the current form, instructions and submission options.

  1. Read the current class definition. Start at the official settlement website and review the nationwide and, when relevant, California, Illinois, Massachusetts or Michigan language.
  2. Collect the identifying information requested. The form may ask for your contact details, transaction information and a notice ID if one was supplied to you. A notice ID can help locate your record, but do not invent one if you did not receive a notice.
  3. Describe qualifying transactions accurately. Use dates and fee amounts supported by your records. Do not include credit-card cash advances, prepaid-card activity or fees that were completely reimbursed.
  4. Choose electronic or paper submission. Complete every required field in the online form, or print the paper form and follow its mailing instructions exactly.
  5. Review certifications and contact information. Confirm that your email or mailing address is correct so the administrator can contact you about deficiencies or payment.
  6. Submit by February 10, 2027. An unfinished online form or an envelope you never mail is not a completed claim. Allow mailing time for a paper submission.
  7. Keep proof of submission. Save the confirmation page, confirmation email, a PDF or photograph of the completed form and any mailing receipt. Store copies with the records supporting your eligibility.

The form and official notices can change as the case moves through approval. Re-open the instructions immediately before submitting rather than relying on a downloaded copy from an earlier date.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What happens after you submit

A claim administrator may review whether your form is complete, whether the information matches the class definition and whether additional clarification is needed. Respond through the contact method and deadline stated in an official notice. Keep your address and email current so a request for information or a payment notice does not get lost.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The settlement’s $167.5 million fund is distributed pro rata if the settlement becomes effective. A pro rata process divides the available fund among valid claims according to the plan approved by the court; it does not promise that each claimant receives the amount of the surcharge or an equal dollar payment. The final value can be affected by the number of approved claims, administrative expenses, taxes or other terms in the final documents.

The reported schedule places a final-approval hearing on February 17, 2027, after the February 10 claim deadline. Distribution is described as occurring after final approval and resolution of appeals. Approval, appeals and administration can alter timing, so rely on updates posted at the official settlement website, not on an assumed payment date.

Common reasons an apparent claim may fail

The ATM was owned by a bank

Bank-owned terminals are outside the independent-ATM screen. Check ownership before spending time reconstructing every fee.

The fee was entirely refunded

A full credit from the bank removes the surcharge from the stated unreimbursed-fee category. Partial credits require a more careful calculation, not an automatic exclusion.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The transaction was a credit-card cash advance

Credit-card cash advances and other credit-card ATM entries are identified as exclusions in the settlement summary. Do not combine them with deposit-account debit withdrawals.

Best Value
Sale
I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. Just a 6-Week Program That Works (Second Edition)
  • It can be a gift option
  • Comes with secure packaging
  • Helpful in various ways

The account was prepaid

Prepaid-card transactions are also described as excluded from the defined cash-withdrawal category. Check the exact current wording if your card was a hybrid or payroll product.

The date is outside the period

A fee from before October 24, 2007 or after August 14, 2026 does not satisfy the stated nationwide transaction window.

The form is incomplete or late

Missing required information, an unsigned paper form or a submission after February 10, 2027 can prevent payment even when the underlying transaction appears eligible.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

When the records are ambiguous

Do not guess about ownership, account type or reimbursement. First ask your bank for a statement image, fee detail or refund history. Then compare that material with the official class definition and the claim form’s instructions.

If the question remains unresolved, contact the settlement administrator using the contact information published on the official website. Explain the specific fact you cannot establish—for example, whether a terminal at a particular store was independently operated—and ask what documentation is acceptable. Keep the question and response with your claim records.

Be cautious of unsolicited requests for payment, banking passwords, full card numbers or remote access to your computer. The legitimate filing route is the official settlement website and its published paper form. Type the address yourself or use the links above, and verify that the domain is spelled exactly as shown before entering personal information.

Bottom-line eligibility test

  1. You were in the United States and used a qualifying U.S. ATM.
  2. The terminal was independently owned, not owned by a bank or financial institution.
  3. The withdrawal occurred from a deposit account through an ATM or PIN-debit card.
  4. The transaction date was October 24, 2007 through August 14, 2026.
  5. An ATM surcharge was charged and not fully reimbursed.
  6. You can submit a complete claim by February 10, 2027.

Meeting those conditions indicates that a claim may be worth filing, but only the settlement administrator and court-approved class definition determine eligibility. Review the current instructions at the claim page, submit accurate information and retain proof of what you sent.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
SaleBestseller No. 2
The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness
The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness
Ideal for Gifting; Ideal for a bookworm; Compact for travelling
$10.99
SaleBestseller No. 5
I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. Just a 6-Week Program That Works (Second Edition)
I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. Just a 6-Week Program That Works (Second Edition)
It can be a gift option; Comes with secure packaging; Helpful in various ways
$9.15

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

More post from the Money Desk

  1. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 267 minMortgage Escrow FAQs: Taxes, Insurance, Shortages, and Refunds
  2. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow Mortgage Escrow Accounts Work and What Homeowners Pay For
  3. The Money DeskBlogTheFinanceBase09 OCT 265 minHow to Read a Stock Chart, Volume and Market-Cap Data
Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.