A coalition of California community groups and social service providers has announced that Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo will now provide free ATM access nationwide to low-income California families who receive benefits via state-issued Electronic Benefits Transfer cards. Show
According to a press release, BofA, Chase and Wells have joined dozens of smaller banks and credit unions that provide ATM access without surcharges in California. Previously, Citibank was the only top national bank to waive fees across the country. Studies by the California Reinvestment Coalition show that California EBT card users have been paying more than $20 million per year on fees to access ATMs. The California Department of Social Services in 2016 bid out a new contract to administer the state’s EBT program. The winner, FIS, agreed to secure free access to two major ATM networks. The new contract also removed fees that were charged by the previous administrator for ATM withdrawals beyond four per month, making California the first state in the nation not to pass through the cost of EBT administration to families for accessing their benefits. “Ultimately, it is the right thing to do to make sure families get the full use of every dime they need rather than allowing taxpayer funds to be siphoned off to pay ATM fees,” Paulina Gonzalez-Brito, executive director of the California Reinvestment Coalition, said in the release. “We hope other banks step up to follow the lead of these banks and that California’s leaders continue to advance policies that ensure access to affordable, non-predatory financial services for all Californians regardless of income.” The web Browser you are currently using is unsupported, and some features of this site may not work as intended. Please update to a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Edge to experience all features Michigan.gov has to offer. Thankfully, there are several ATMs including those operated by well-known banks like Bank of America and Wells Fargo. Below, we’ll cover ATMs that offer free EBT transactions. We’ll also cover those that do charge EBT fees, just to give you some more options in case you need your funds and can’t get to an ATM that has no fees. What will I learn? 1
What are EBT cash benefits?EBT cash benefits are any benefits that can be deposited to your Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. While SNAP benefits can only be used to purchase eligible food and drink items at authorized retailers, cash benefits can be used for more general purposes, such as getting cashback and withdrawing money from an ATM. The Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card has been the sole way that governments have issued benefits including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program benefits since June, 2004. Need Easy Extra $300+/Month for Free? EBT is used in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. TANF is the main program that provides EBT cash benefits. And, if you qualify for TANF, you will receive automatic deposits to your EBT card, which can be withdrawn from ATMs for cash. Where Can I Withdraw My EBT Cash Benefits?Each state has its own requirements and ATMs where you will be able to withdraw your cash benefits. Generally, you will be able to withdraw cash from ATMs at locations that display the QUEST logo and supported remarks such as “EBT Accepted Here.” In most states, you cannot use your cash assistance EBT card at ATMs located at:
Free EBT ATMsIf you have an EBT card and get cash assistance benefits, you’ll be able to use your card to make cash withdrawals at ATMs. Surcharge-free EBT ATMs are:
Did you know that it’s not just ATMs that are operated by major national banks that do not charge EBT fees? There are also plenty of smaller, regional banks with ATMs that don’t charge fees. One state that has more than 40 banks and credit unions that allow you to make EBT transactions at their ATMs is California. You can find the full list here. To find these local banks and credit unions in your state, I would recommend that you contact a branch near you. Call them and ask if they charge any fees for EBT transactions at ATMs. Advertisements Free ATM NetworksThere are many companies that operate nationwide surcharge-free ATM networks. These can be found at:
These networks partner with financial institutions to offer these ATM services. Now, it’s important to note that while the network itself doesn’t charge fees, its partner institutions might charge fees at some locations. Don’t worry, if there are any fees charged, a message should appear on-screen that will ask you to accept these fees before you complete your transaction. Here are the major surcharge-free ATM networks in the United States:
ATMs that Have EBT Transaction FeesNow, it’s good that there are options if you’re looking to use your EBT at the ATM and don’t want to have to pay fees. After all, when you are struggling financially anyway, you want to save money whenever you can. Sadly, many ATMS do indeed charge fees for EBT transactions, and this includes:
How to Find Free EBT ATMs Near YouYou can try the ATM locations I mentioned above. But I have another tip for you. I would recommend visiting your state’s health/human resources/social department website. There, you can find specific information about using your benefits locally. For example, Arizona has an app that you can use to find nearby ATMs that accept EBT cards. Here’s the site for each state: Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District Of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Closing ThoughtsIf you want to use your EBT card to withdraw your cash benefits, try one of the fee-free EBT ATMs listed above. And, for more information, visit your state’s cash benefits page. Where can I withdraw money from my EBT card for free in Michigan?You may use your card to withdraw cash benefits at any ATM with the Quest sign. You cannot get cash from your food benefit account. You can make up to four withdrawals a month without having to pay a transaction fee.
What ATMs can I use with Bank of America for free?You can access your accounts at thousands of automated teller machines (ATMs), all of which are audio ATMs. As a Bank of America account holder, you don't incur fees for withdrawals, transfers or balance inquiries at ATMs displaying the Bank of America name and logo.
Where can I withdraw money from my EBT card for free in CT?You can get your Cash benefits from any ATM displaying the Quest logo. You may have to pay a surcharge at the ATM. A surcharge is a service fee that some stores and banks MAY charge you each time you use an ATM to get cash or check your balance.
How do I withdraw money from my EBT card in PA?Recipients are able to use their EBT Access Card to obtain cash benefits through ATMs located throughout the state. In addition, recipients are able to make cash purchases and receive cashback through POS terminals at participating retailers.
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