PIRG, a consumer group founded by Ralph Nader, supports a ban on surcharges, calling them unfair. Many banking customers agree, but like Remillard, they are willing to pay them in order to have banking flexibility. For the convenience, though, I put up with it. Local bankers point to such statements in justifying the surcharge. You pay for the service of having your newspaper delivered, but consumer groups want banks not to get paid for the ATM service.
Most banks surveyed in the area follow similar patterns.
We're living in a fee-based economy these days. You pay for what you use. Burdick and Milavec also say banks spend a great deal of money to provide ATM service, and they have to make up for that cost. But Joan Coe, executive vice president of Sidney Federal Credit Union, said losing money on an ATM should be looked at as a cost of business. Coe said most credit unions do not impose surcharges for ATM use.