Surcharges are the fees banks charge noncustomers for use of their ATMs. Surcharges are deducted directly from the consumer's account at the time of the transaction. (When you withdraw $20 and your receipt says $21.50, you have paid a $1.50 surcharge to the bank that owns the ATM.) Surcharging first began in 1996. Today, 93 percent of all banks surcharge noncustomers an average of $1.37 for each ATM transaction. Americans paid an estimated $2.2 billion in surcharges in 2001.

To help credit union members avoid these costs, many credit unions have joined together to offer member access to no surcharge machines. Your credit union has joined the Alliance One Network. Members should look for both the Alliance One logo and the STAR logo to ensure they will not be charged a surcharge. Also remember to choose "CREDIT" instead of "ATM" or "DEBIT" when you use your ATM/Check Card at the point of sale so that your purchase
transaction will not be counted as an ATM transaction. This will help save you and your credit union money.