Direct Charging

From 3rd March 2009, you will see the ATM owner fee each time you use a foreign ATM. After you enter your PIN, a message will appear on the ATM screen:

1. You will be shown how much the ATM owner will charge you to use the ATM; and

2. You will be asked whether you want to continue with your transaction, or whether you want to cancel.

If you decide to continue, the ATM owner’s fee will be taken out of your account at the time of the transaction.
If you decide to cancel, no fee applies.

This new way of charging ATM owner fees is called “direct charging”.

Direct Charging lets you know upfront how much you will be charged by the ATM owner for making a foreign ATM transaction. You can then choose whether to use the ATM and pay the fee shown, or cancel the transaction and go to another ATM.

The RBA states that Direct Charging, which will apply to all financial institutions and ATMs throughout Australia, will improve competition and make ATM fees more transparent.