We’re all looking for ways to make small improvements here and there as the new year begins, and saving money is always a good place to start!  A great and simple way to save yourself a lot of money and a lot of headaches is to find ways to avoid fees on your checking and savings accounts whenever possible.  We want to help you do that by giving you some quick info about your ATM/Debit card and how to avoid paying fees when using it.

First, it’s important to understand the types of fees and transaction terms you might see when looking at your transaction history.  Here are some quick definitions:

Foreign ATM Fee:
A fee charged to 3Rivers members for use of a machine that is not owned by 3Rivers

Surcharge:
A charge for use of the machine by the institution that owns the ATM.

Shared ATM Network:
A collection of several community banks and credit unions who have agreed not to collect surcharge fees from customers and/or members of other institutions who participate in the network. 3Rivers is a part of three Shared ATM Networks: Co-Op Network, AllianceOne and CU24.

Point of Sale (POS):
The use of your debit card in the course of a transaction for goods and services. You will be prompted to select whether you process as a credit (signature based) or debit (PIN based). Always choose credit in order to avoid potential card fees.

Hopefully those explanations will help you understand what is happening on your account when you review your history, which you can easily do online or with mobile access anytime!

Now, let’s look at some basic scenarios to show you how these fees occur when using your 3Rivers card.  Keep in mind, these situations will vary based upon the checking and/or savings accounts you have:

When using 3Rivers ATMs: ALWAYS FREE for Members of 3Rivers no matter what checking or savings accounts you own.

When using ATMs that are NOT owned by 3Rivers:

• $1 Foreign ATM Fee per transaction if making a transaction on a Standard Savings, Standard Checking or Reward Checking Account. This fee is charged by 3Rivers.
• A surcharge MAY apply and is charged by the institution that owns the machine. The amount is determined by the institution that owns the machine and 3Rivers has no hand in determining that amount or in charging. IF YOU HAVE AN EPIC or RHYTHM CHECKING ACCOUNT, we will REFUND up to $12 (limit of $3 per transaction) per month provided you meet the rewards qualifications during that rewards cycle.
• If using an AllianceOne, CU24 or Co-Op Network ATM, there is NO SURCHARGE from the institution that owns it. However, if transacting on a Standard Savings, Standard Checking or Reward Checking Account, a $1 per transaction Foreign ATM Fee is applicable. This is charged by 3Rivers.

Point of Sale Transactions using a 3Rivers Debit Card: Regardless of the account you have, if you process as a signature-based transaction (as Credit), they are completely free. However, if you process the transaction as a PIN-Based transaction (as Debit) and you are making a transaction on a Standard Savings, Standard Checking or Reward Checking Account, a $1 per transaction Foreign ATM Fee is applicable. This is charged by 3Rivers.

We want to help you save money so you can use it for what matters most to you instead of paying fees.  The most important point to remember is that you have control and don’t have to incur the fees.  If you are unclear about these or any fees, you can always ask your local branch representatives or give us a call (260.490.8328 or 800.825.3641, option 1).

As always, thanks for your relationship with us. We’re excited to be part of making your new year a financially healthy one!