Independent ATM resource. We are not a bank and do not operate ATMs or ATM networks. Network sizes, fees, and participation change over time and vary by card issuer, so confirm access in your bank’s app or on the network’s own locator before you rely on it.
A fee-free ATM is any machine where you can withdraw cash without paying a surcharge — usually your own bank’s ATM or a machine in a surcharge-free network your card belongs to. The catch is that “fee-free” depends on your card, not on the machine alone. This guide explains the two fees you can be charged, the major surcharge-free networks and how big each one really is, and the fastest ways to pull cash without paying for it.
Quick Answer: How to Get Cash Without ATM Fees
The most reliable way to avoid ATM fees is to use your own bank’s ATM. If none is nearby, check whether your debit card participates in a surcharge-free network such as Allpoint, MoneyPass, or the CO-OP credit union network, then use that network’s locator. Cash back at a store checkout is a fee-free backup that also skips the ATM entirely.
- Best overall: Your own bank or credit union’s ATM
- If your bank isn’t nearby: A surcharge-free network ATM your card supports
- No network ATM around: Cash back at a grocery, pharmacy, or big-box checkout
- If you travel or use ATMs often: A bank account that reimburses out-of-network ATM fees
The Two Fees You’re Actually Trying to Avoid
“Fee-free” is easier to understand once you know that an out-of-network withdrawal can trigger two separate charges from two different parties:
- The surcharge: Charged by the ATM’s owner for using their machine. A surcharge-free network eliminates this one.
- The out-of-network fee: Charged by your own bank for using an ATM outside its network — often around $1.50 to $3.00. A surcharge-free network does not automatically remove this; your bank does.
This is the detail most people miss: using a surcharge-free network ATM removes the owner’s surcharge, but you can still owe your own bank’s out-of-network fee unless your bank waives it at those machines. Many banks and credit unions that specifically advertise Allpoint, MoneyPass, or CO-OP access also waive their own fee at those ATMs — but confirm it with your issuer. For a full breakdown of how these charges stack up, see how ATM fees work, and for what individual banks charge, see ATM fees by bank.
The Major Surcharge-Free ATM Networks
If your bank’s own ATMs are hard to find, a surcharge-free network is usually your best route to fee-free cash. You gain access through your card issuer, so the first step is checking whether your debit card carries an Allpoint, MoneyPass, or CO-OP logo — or asking your bank which networks it participates in.
| Network | Approx. Size | Coverage | Commonly Found At | Deposits? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allpoint | 40,000+ US (55,000+ worldwide) | US, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, UK, Australia | CVS, Walgreens, Target, Kroger, Circle K, Casey’s | At select “Allpoint+” locations |
| MoneyPass | ~40,000 | US and Puerto Rico only | Walgreens, 7-Eleven, Kroger, and member banks | At many locations (card-dependent) |
| CO-OP (operated by Velera) | ~30,000+ | US, plus limited Canada / Navy bases | 7-Eleven, Costco, Walgreens, Circle K, Publix | ~9,000 deposit-taking ATMs |
Allpoint
Allpoint (owned by NCR Atleos) is the largest surcharge-free network, with more than 40,000 ATMs in the US and about 55,000 worldwide. Its biggest advantage is international reach — it’s the only major surcharge-free network with meaningful coverage outside the US, spanning Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, the UK, and Australia. Machines sit in familiar retailers like CVS, Walgreens, Target, Kroger, and Circle K, and the network recently added roughly 600 locations at Casey’s stores across several states. Select “Allpoint+” ATMs also accept cash deposits at participating CVS and Walgreens locations. Find machines with the Allpoint locator.
MoneyPass
MoneyPass (owned by Fiserv) is one of the largest surcharge-free networks in the country, with approximately 40,000 ATMs. Unlike Allpoint, it operates only in the US and Puerto Rico, so it’s best for domestic use. It’s especially common among community banks, credit unions, and prepaid card programs, and many machines sit in Walgreens, 7-Eleven, and Kroger locations. Some MoneyPass ATMs accept deposits, though eligibility depends on your card. Find machines with the MoneyPass locator.
CO-OP (Credit Union Network)
The CO-OP network, now operated by Velera, gives credit union members access to roughly 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs — more than most big banks offer — including machines at 7-Eleven, Costco, Walgreens, Circle K, and Publix. Around 9,000 of them accept deposits. Its standout feature is shared branching: CO-OP also connects more than 5,000 credit union branches nationwide, so members can make deposits and conduct teller transactions at other participating credit unions, not just use ATMs. If you bank with a credit union, this is often the strongest fee-free option available to you. Find machines with the CO-OP locator or by texting your ZIP code to 91989.
How to Find a Fee-Free ATM Near You
Work through these in order — the first one that applies is usually your cheapest option:
- Start with your bank’s app. It shows in-network ATMs and often flags which ones accept deposits or offer cardless access.
- Check your card for a network logo. An Allpoint, MoneyPass, or CO-OP logo on your card or in your app means you can use that network’s locator.
- Use the network’s own locator (linked above) rather than a generic map — it only shows genuinely surcharge-free machines for that network.
- Read the surcharge screen anyway. If a machine unexpectedly displays a fee, cancel and find another; you may be at a lookalike ATM that isn’t part of the network.
- Fall back to cash back at checkout if no fee-free ATM is nearby (see below).
To browse nearby machines on a map first, use our main ATM near me guide, then confirm fee-free status with the relevant network locator.
Cash Back at Checkout: The ATM-Free Option
When no fee-free ATM is within reach, getting cash back at a store checkout skips ATM fees entirely. Make a debit purchase and request cash back — most grocery stores, pharmacies, and big-box retailers offer it at no charge, though each sets its own limit.
- Usually free, since it runs as a debit purchase rather than an ATM withdrawal
- Cash-back limits are often lower than ATM limits — commonly $20 to $100 depending on the store
- Requires a purchase, so it’s best when you’re already shopping
- Counts against your daily debit spending limit, not your ATM withdrawal limit
Banks That Reimburse ATM Fees
If you use ATMs frequently or travel often, the most durable way to avoid ATM fees is an account that reimburses them. Some online banks, brokerages, and premium checking accounts refund out-of-network ATM surcharges automatically, often up to a monthly cap and sometimes with no limit at all. For heavy ATM users, fee reimbursement can be more valuable than any single network, because it works at virtually any machine rather than only in-network ones.
- Look for checking accounts that advertise “ATM fee reimbursement” or “no ATM fees, anywhere”
- Check whether reimbursement is capped monthly or unlimited
- Confirm whether refunds are automatic or require a request
- Note any minimum-balance or direct-deposit requirements to qualify
Fee-Free ATMs While Traveling
Network coverage matters more when you’re away from home. Allpoint is the only major surcharge-free network with international ATMs, so it’s the most useful abroad; MoneyPass and CO-OP are essentially US-only. Even so, using any ATM in another country can involve foreign-transaction and currency-conversion fees from your card issuer that are separate from the ATM surcharge — a fee-reimbursement account or a card with no foreign-transaction fees is often the better travel strategy.
Common Mistakes That Lead to ATM Fees
- Assuming a network ATM is free with any card. You only get surcharge-free access if your issuer participates in that network.
- Forgetting the second fee. A surcharge-free ATM removes the owner’s fee, but your bank’s out-of-network fee can still apply.
- Trusting the logo alone. At locations with multiple machines, only the one displaying the network logo is surcharge-free.
- Taking small amounts often. If you must use a fee-charging ATM, one larger withdrawal beats several small ones.
- Using airport, hotel, casino, and bar ATMs. These rarely belong to surcharge-free networks and often carry the highest fees.
How This Guide Is Maintained
Network sizes in this guide are drawn from each network operator’s own published figures — Allpoint (NCR Atleos), MoneyPass (Fiserv), and CO-OP (Velera) — and from participating financial institutions’ disclosures. Because network participation, ATM counts, and fee policies change over time and vary by card issuer, always confirm current access through your bank’s app or the network’s official locator before relying on a specific machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find a fee-free ATM near me?
Start with your own bank’s ATM locator in its app. If your bank isn’t nearby, check whether your debit card participates in a surcharge-free network such as Allpoint, MoneyPass, or CO-OP, and use that network’s locator. Cash back at a store checkout is a fee-free backup when no in-network ATM is close.
What is the difference between a surcharge and an out-of-network fee?
The surcharge is charged by the ATM’s owner for using their machine. The out-of-network fee is charged by your own bank for using an ATM outside its network, often around $1.50 to $3.00. A surcharge-free network removes the owner’s surcharge, but your bank’s fee can still apply unless your bank waives it.
Is a surcharge-free network ATM always completely free?
Not always. It removes the ATM owner’s surcharge, but your own bank may still charge an out-of-network fee. Many banks and credit unions that advertise Allpoint, MoneyPass, or CO-OP access also waive their own fee at those machines — confirm this with your card issuer.
How big is the Allpoint network?
Allpoint includes more than 40,000 ATMs in the US and about 55,000 worldwide, making it the largest surcharge-free network and the only major one with significant international coverage, including Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, the UK, and Australia.
Does MoneyPass work outside the United States?
No. MoneyPass surcharge-free ATMs are located only in the United States and Puerto Rico. For international surcharge-free access, Allpoint is the better option among the major networks.
What fee-free ATM options do credit union members have?
Credit union members can usually use the CO-OP network, which includes roughly 30,000 surcharge-free ATMs (about 9,000 accepting deposits) plus more than 5,000 shared branches, where members can make deposits and transactions at other participating credit unions. Check your card for the CO-OP logo or ask your credit union.
Can I get cash without any ATM at all?
Yes. Request cash back when making a debit purchase at a grocery store, pharmacy, or big-box retailer. It’s typically free and skips ATM fees entirely, though the amount is usually capped between $20 and $100 depending on the store.
What’s the best way to avoid ATM fees if I travel a lot?
Open a checking account that reimburses out-of-network ATM fees. Because reimbursement works at virtually any machine rather than only in-network ones, it’s often more valuable for frequent or international travelers than membership in any single surcharge-free network.
Bottom Line
The cheapest ATM is almost always your own bank’s. When it isn’t nearby, a surcharge-free network — Allpoint for the widest and only international coverage, MoneyPass for broad US access, or CO-OP for credit union members and shared branching — is your best route to fee-free cash, as long as your card participates. Remember that a surcharge-free machine only removes the owner’s fee; check that your bank waives its own. And if you use ATMs often, an account that reimburses fees beats chasing any single network.