ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Friday, October 4, 1996                TAG: 9610040044
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: A-7  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON

ATM MACHINES GETTING INTO SURCHARGE SWING

Nearly one-quarter of automated teller machines charge a transaction fee to customers who do not have accounts with the bank that owns the machine, according to a consumer survey released Thursday.

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group survey also estimates the new fees could generate an extra $847 million in revenue for banks. That estimate, based on 1995 ATM transaction volume, assumes a $1 fee.

PIRG, a consumer group affiliated with activist Ralph Nader, surveyed the fee policies at 458 ATM machines in 20 states, and found 23 percent of them levy the new fees. The group said it expects the percentage to rise.

In April, major ATM networks agreed to let banks owning the machines charge users the surcharge to recoup their investment in the machines and their operation. The surcharge is atop an interchange fee, which ATM networks charge banks for using their computer lines.

- Associated Press

LENGTH: Short :   28 lines