No surcharge ATMs in Calgary, Alberta?

September 3, 2006 10:04 AM

Are there any no-fee ATMs in Calgary, Alberta?

I'll be traveling to Canada this month and would like to know if there are any locations with ATMs that won't charge me a fee to use their machines. On a recent trip to Minnesota, we saw several convenience stores with big signs advertising "No Fee ATM." In the Chicago area, I've found a few locations (mostly credit unions and Woodman's grocery stores) that don't charge a fee to another bank's ATM card holder. Is there anything like that in Calgary? (My U.S. bank doesn't charge me a fee for using other bank's ATMs, but it doesn't belong to a no-fee network, either.)

posted by Joleta to Work & Money (15 answers total)

I'm in Calgary and I can't ever recall seeing a no-fee ATM advertised as you've described. The independent ATMs are all (as far as I've encountered after living here for a few years) the ripoff $1.50/transaction variety. The best bet is probably to contact the major banks here directly and ask them if they'd charge you a fee.

The Royal Bank of Canada
TD Canada Trust
First Calgary Savings
CIBC

The other option (one that's especially useful abroad) is to load up a credit card with a surplus and then use that as much as possible. This is assuming, of course, that you're a Zen master of finance and have a credit card in such a state.
posted by jimmythefish at 10:52 AM on September 3, 2006

You're talking about the surcharge that's added to your withdrawal? (e.g. If the surcharge $1.50, you withdraw $40, it's processed as a withdrawal of $41.50 -- and then any fees from your bank or the network appear separately)

In my experience, these surcharges do not apply to those from out of the country. If you use a card from a US bank in Canada, or a Canadian bank in the US, the surcharge is not added to your withdrawal (even though the machine will probably still give you the warning that is will be added). You'll have to check with your bank about the bank fee or network fee (these might exist even if they're not charged when you're in the US) but those will be the same no matter what ATM you use.
posted by winston at 10:57 AM on September 3, 2006

I would, however, as a precaution, go to a machine from an actual bank, rather than a white-label machine (as the add-on fee is the only way those machines make money). Though this might not be necessary.
posted by winston at 10:59 AM on September 3, 2006

At most grocery stores and some other stores, if you pay using a debit card, you can ask for "cash back" on your purchase. They charge your debit card for your purchase plus the amount you want, and give you cash from the till. There's no extra fee (unless your own bank charges you a fee to use your debit card).
posted by joannemerriam at 11:00 AM on September 3, 2006

You might also inquire at your bank about the exchange rate you will be charged for withdrawals in Canadian dollars. You might find that your credit card offers a much better exchange rate than your chequing account.
posted by winston at 11:00 AM on September 3, 2006

Generally, stores in Canada only do debit card purchases through the Interac system, of which US banks are not members. You can use a Visa or MasterCard debit card from a US bank as a credit card, but then you can't get cash back.
posted by winston at 11:03 AM on September 3, 2006

Echoing what jimmythefish said above about using a major bank's machine over a no-name one. Also look for the following national banks:

BMO Bank of Montreal
Scotiabank

There's also ATB Financial, which is Alberta-only.
posted by hangashore at 11:14 AM on September 3, 2006

Questionably useful/relavant: I am a Bank of America customer, and was able to use ScotiaBank ATMS for free. You're probably not a BOA customer, seeing as how your bank doesn't charge for ATM visits - but it may be worth calling ScotiaBank to see.
posted by rossination at 11:29 AM on September 3, 2006

Another thing about canadian ATM's, though it may not apply here. Members of a Credit Union are able to use ANY credit union ATM as if it were their own.
posted by utsutsu at 12:41 PM on September 3, 2006

In my experience, these surcharges do not apply to those from out of the country.

My recent experience is different. Many non-US banks are charging fees now to US-banks. I specifically opened an account with BofA so I can get cash at Scotiabank in Canada, Barclays in the UK and Santander Serfin in Mexico. Between the forex fees (2%), the fees my bank charged ($5), and the fees the foreign bank charged (2€ in Italy and Germany), there was little money left over for me.
posted by birdherder at 12:48 PM on September 3, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks, everyone. I don't have a debit card for purchases, just the ATM card that allows me to take cash out of bank machines. I'm fine in the credit card department, but I'd like to be able to get some Canadian cash while I'm there, as needed. I just have to remember that the $1.50 Canadian fee is only about $1.36 U.S. :)
posted by Joleta at 1:46 PM on September 3, 2006

If you use a card from a US bank in Canada, or a Canadian bank in the US, the surcharge is not added to your withdrawal

I'm pretty sure the ATM in the Ontario Science Centre charged me for using a U.S. card.
posted by oaf at 2:15 PM on September 3, 2006

I'm going to second joannemerriam's suggestion about asking for cash back. Wait until you need a small item from a grocery store, purchase it and ask for feeless "cash back" money.

Cashiers have always asked me if I want "cash back" but for some reason I never really took advantage of it until recently. Great suggestion.
posted by jourman2 at 6:35 PM on September 3, 2006

Not sure if they have locations in Canada, but others reading this may take benefit from AllPoint.
posted by mikeinclifton at 6:05 AM on September 4, 2006

Joleta, in Canada we don't have separate debit cards for purchases. You use your regular ATM card that you would use in a bank machine, and there is nothing special that you have to do to enable or turn on this service.

That said, the shared processing service (analogous to Plus or Cirrus in the US) is called Interac and US banks are unlikely to be members. There may be a reciprocal arrangement with Plus that isn't advertised, so it may be worthwhile to try anyways.
posted by mikel at 6:28 AM on September 4, 2006