PRICEY PLASTIC

A NYPIRG Report and Survey of Plastic Card Fees

Attachments

ATM Surcharge Fees

Bank-Owned ATMs

ISO ATMs

ATM/Debit Card Fees

Pre-Paid Card Fees

Credit Card Fees

Bank-Issued Credit Cards

Store-Issued Credit Cards

Gift Card Fees

ATM Surcharges in New York - 2004

Bank-Owned ATM Survey Results

Region	Bank ATM Owner	Location(s) of ATMs Surveyed, owned by Bank, in Region	ATM Surcharge Fee Amount Assessed by Bank ATM Owner
Long Island	Apple	Ronkonkoma	$1.50
Long Island	Astoria Federal Savings	Rockville Centre; Happague[1]	$1.50
Long Island	Atlantic	Hicksville	$1.50
Long Island	Bank of New York	Old Westbury	$1.75
Long Island	Bank of New York	Rockville Centre	$1.50
Long Island	Bank of Smithtown	Centerreach; Lake Grove	$1.50
Long Island	Chase	Rockville Centre	$1.50
Long Island	Citibank	Hicksville; Rockville Centre	$1.50
Long Island	Commerce	Hicksville	$1.50
Long Island	Emigrant	Hicksville	$1.50
Long Island	First Bank of Long Island	Huntington	$1.75
Long Island	Fleet	Hempstead; Huntington	$1.50
Long Island	Greenpoint	Centerreach; Rockville Centre[2]	$1.50
Long Island	HSBC	Stony Brook[3]	$1.75
Long Island	Long Island Commercial Bank	Islandia	$1.00
Long Island	North Fork	Happague, Huntington	$1.75
Long Island	Roslyn Savings Bank/NY Community Bank	Bellmore	$1.50
Long Island	State Bank of Long Island	Old Westbury	$1.50
Long Island	Washington Mutual	Carle Place; Huntington[4]	FREE
New York City	Apple Bank	Bronx	$1.50
New York City	Astoria Federal Savings	Brooklyn, Queens	$1.50
New York City	Atlantic Bank of NY	Manhattan[5]	$1.50
New York City	Banco Popular	Bronx; Queens	$1.50
New York City	Bank of New York	Manhattan	$1.00
New York City	Bank of New York	Queens	$1.50
New York City	Carver Federal Savings	Queens	$1.50
New York City	Chase	Bronx; Brooklyn; Manhattan; Queens	$1.50
New York City	Citibank	Brooklyn; Manhattan; Queens; Staten Island[6]	$1.50
New York City	Commerce	Brooklyn; Manhattan; Staten Island[7]	$1.50
New York City	Emigrant Savings	Manhattan	$1.25
New York City	First American International	Queens	$1.50
New York City	Flatbush Federal Savings	Brooklyn	$1.50
New York City	Great Eastern	Queens[8]	$1.50
New York City	Greenpoint	Manhattan; Queens[9]	$1.50
New York City	HSBC	Brooklyn; Manhattan; Queens[10]	$1.75
New York City	Independence	Brooklyn; Queens; Staten Island	$1.50
New York City	M & T	Brooklyn	$2.00
New York City	North Fork	Bronx; Manhattan; Queens[11]	$1.75
New York City	Queens County Savings; NY Community Bank	Queens	$1.50
New York City	Ridgewood Savings	Queens	$1.50
New York City	S.I. Bank and Trust	Staten Island	$1.50
New York City	Sterling National	Queens	$1.50
New York City	United Orient	Queens	$1.00
New York City	Washington Mutual	Bronx; Manhattan[12]	FREE
Upstate New York	Alliance	Cortland; Syracuse	$2.00
Upstate New York	AmeriCU	Liverpool; Oswego; Syracuse	$2.00
Upstate New York	Bank of America	White Plains	$2.00
Upstate New York	Bank of New York	Larchmont	$1.50
Upstate New York	Bank of New York	New Paltz[13]	$1.00
Upstate New York	BSB Bank and Trust	Vestal; Syracuse	$1.75
Upstate New York	Charter One	Albany; Vestal	$2.50
Upstate New York	Charter One	Buffalo; Syracuse	FREE
Upstate New York	Chase	Dewitt; Liverpool; Oswego[14]	$1.50
Upstate New York	Citibank	Buffalo[15]	$1.00
Upstate New York	Citibank	Larchmont	$1.50
Upstate New York	Commerce	White Plains	$1.50
Upstate New York	Evergreen	Latham	$1.75
Upstate New York	First National Bank of Scotia	Albany[16]	$1.50
Upstate New York	First Niagara Bank	Albany; Buffalo; Cortland	$1.50
Upstate New York	Fleet	Albany; Buffalo; Fulton; Mamaroneck; New Paltz; Purchase; Syracuse; White Plains[17]	$1.50
Upstate New York	Fulton Savings Bank	Phoenix	$1.50
Upstate New York	Geddes Federal S & L	Syracuse	$1.00
Upstate New York	Greater Buffalo Savings Bank	Buffalo	$1.50
Upstate New York	HSBC	Alban; Oswego; Syracuse; Vestal[18]	$1.75
Upstate New York	Hudson Heritage Federal CU	New Paltz	$1.50
Upstate New York	Hudson River[19]	Albany	$1.25
Upstate New York	Key[20]	Albany; Buffalo; Liverpool; Oswego; Syracuse	$2.00
Upstate New York	M&T	Albany; Buffalo; Liverpool; New Paltz; Vestal[21]	$2.00
Upstate New York	M&T	Syracuse	$1.75
Upstate New York	NBT	Vestal	$1.50
Upstate New York	Oswego County Savings	Oswego	$2.00
Upstate New York	Pioneer Savings	Albany	$1.50
Upstate New York	SEFCU	Albany; Syracuse; Vestal	$1.25
Upstate New York	Solvay	Syracuse	$1.50
Upstate New York	Trustco	Albany[22]	$1.75
Upstate New York	Ulster Savings	New Paltz	$1.00
Upstate New York	Visionπs FCU	Binghamton	FREE
Upstate New York	Wachovia	Larchmont; New Paltz	$2.00
Upstate New York	Washington Mutual	Mamaroneck	FREE

Bank-Owned ATM Survey Summary

Total Number of Bank-Owned ATMs[23] Surveyed - 79

Percentage of Bank-Owned ATMs Surveyed that Assess an ATM Surcharge ≠ 94% (74/79)

Average Amount of the ATM Surcharge[24] Assessed by Bank-Owned ATMs Surveyed ≠ $1.55

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ISO-Owned ATM Survey Results

Region	Independent Service Operator (ISO) Non-Bank ATM Owner	Location(s) of ATMs Surveyed, owned by ISO, in Region	ATM Surcharge Fee Amount Assessed by Bank ATM Owner
Long Island	American Express[25]	Centerreach; Hempstead	$1.50
Long Island	CAI	Garden City	$2.00
Long Island	Cardtronics	Centerreach; Freeport; Garden City	$1.50
Long Island	King Kullen[26]	Smithtown	$1.00
Long Island	Triton/Sinem Ozden Corp.[27]	Selden	$1.50
New York City	AA ATM	Manhattan	99¢
New York City	A&A Food Market	Staten Island	$1.60
New York City	Actors FCU	Manhattan	99¢
New York City	ATM World	Manhattan	99¢
New York City	Bagels & Buns	Staten Island	$1.50
New York City	Bayside Exxon	Queens	$2.50
New York City	Cardtronics	Manhattan	$1.00
New York City	Cardtronics	Queens; Staten Island	99¢
New York City	Check Cashers	Staten Island	$2.00
New York City	Checks & More	Brooklyn	$1.50
New York City	Clarisa Deli and Grocery	Manhattan	$1.50
New York City	E-Trade	Brooklyn	$1.50
New York City	FCC	Staten Island	$1.75
New York City	Forest Deli and Grocery	Staten Island	$1.50
New York City	Global Reliant, Inc.	Brooklyn	$1.50
New York City	Innovus	Queens	$1.95
New York City	MMI	Queens	$1.50
New York City	Money Making	Manhattan	$1.75
New York City	Money Marketing	Brooklyn; Queens	$1.50
New York City	Money Marketing	Manhattan	$1.75
New York City	Money Technology Systems, Inc.	Manhattan	$1.50
New York City	Nextron	Brooklyn	$1.75
New York City	Nextron	Queens	$1.65
New York City	NYC ATM	Staten Island	$1.50
New York City	Quest	Brooklyn	$1.50
New York City	Quest	Manhattan	99¢
New York City	NOR Springfield	Queens	$1.75
New York City	PBT	Queens	$1.50
New York City	SHIK	Brooklyn	$1.50
New York City	Specialized Financial	Queens	$2.00
New York City	Triton	Manhattan	$1.50
New York City	TRM Corp	Queens	$1.50
New York City	Willowbrook Deli	Staten Island	$1.50
Upstate New York	Access Cash	Cortland	$1.95
Upstate New York	Access to Money	New Paltz	$1.50
Upstate New York	Access to Money	New Paltz	$1.75
Upstate New York	Atlas ATM	White Plains	$1.50
Upstate New York	Card Capture Services	New Paltz	$1.50
Upstate New York	Cardtronics	Syracuse	$1.00
Upstate New York	Cardtronics	New Paltz	$1.25
Upstate New York	Cardtronics	Buffalo; Cortland; New Paltz	$1.50
Upstate New York	Cardtronics	Albany; Buffalo; Latham; White Plains	$1.75
Upstate New York	Chestnut Mart	New Paltz	$1.50
Upstate New York	Convenient Deli	New Patlz	$1.75
Upstate New York	Diebold	Oswego	$1.50
Upstate New York	E-Trade	Albany	$1.50
Upstate New York	E-Trade	Fulton	$1.75
Upstate New York	Family Farm of New Paltz	New Paltz	$1.50
Upstate New York	First National ATM	New Paltz	$1.50[28]
Upstate New York	First National ATM	New Paltz	$2.00[29]
Upstate New York	Golub Corporation	Cortland	$1.50
Upstate New York	Granite Capital Holdings	Johnson City	$1.75
Upstate New York	Innovus	Albany; Syracuse	$2.50
Upstate New York	Larchmont Mini Mart	Larchmont	$1.50
Upstate New York	Manleyπs Mighty Mart	Johnson City	$1.75
Upstate New York	Mamaroneck Gas	Mamaroneck	$2.00
Upstate New York	Money Tree	Syracuse	$1.50
Upstate New York	National ATM	Albany	$1.50
Upstate New York	Paper and Puff (PAP)	White Plains	$1.50
Upstate New York	Pathfinder	Oswego	$1.50
Upstate New York	PBT	Buffalo	$1.50
Upstate New York	Power	Oswego	$1.50
Upstate New York	Quest	Syracuse	$1.25
Upstate New York	Sonic	Syracuse	75¢
Upstate New York	Sunoco	Port Chester	$1.75
Upstate New York	Tip Top Vending	White Plains	$1.75
Upstate New York	TRM Corporation	Albany	$1.95
Upstate New York	UMI Communications	New Paltz	$1.75
Upstate New York	Wegmanπs	Johnson City; Buffalo	$1.00
Upstate New York	WRG Service Inc.	Albany	$1.50

ISO-Owned ATM Survey Summary

Total Number of ISO-Owned ATMs[30] Surveyed - 75

Percentage of ISO-Owned ATMs Surveyed that Assess an ATM Surcharge ≠ 100% (75/75)

Average Amount of the ATM Surcharge[31] Assessed by ISO-Owned ATMs Surveyed ≠ $1.55

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ATM/Debit Card Fees Assessed by New York Banks ≠ Spring 2004

Bank Name	Foreign ATM Fees		Debit Card Point-of-Sale Fees[32]	ATM/Debit Card Replacement Fee	Additional ATM/Debit Card Fees
	Withdrawal Fees	Account Inquiry Fees
Alliance	$1.25	$1.25	25¢	$6.00	The $1.25 fee is for all non-Alliance ATM transactions
AmeriCU	$1.00	$1.00	25¢	$10.00[33]	Also assess a $2 PIN reminder fee; a $1 Transfer fee at non-AmeriCU ATMs and a $15 ATM/Debit Research fee[34]
Apple	$1.50	$1.00	$1.50	$5.00	Also assesses a $10 ATM Deposit Adjustment Fee and a $2 Unprocessed ATM withdrawal fee
Astoria Federal Savings	$1.50	$1.00	$1.00	$10.00	Also assesses a $1 fee to obtain a mini-statement update at Astoria ATM
Atlantic	$1.25	$1.25	FREE	$10.00	The $1.25 fee also applies to Transfers made a non-Atlantic ATM
Banco Popular	SEE NOTE[35]			$5.00
Bank of New York	$1.00		50¢	$1.00
Bank of Smithtown	$1.50	$1.00	$1.00	$10.00
BSB Bank and Trust	$1.75			$5.00
Carver	$1.50	50¢	$1.00	$7.50
Charter One	$2.25	$2.25[36]	$1.00[37]	$5.00	Also assesses $1.50 monthly fee for ATM and Debit Cards;[38] a $15 ATM deposit correction fee; and the $2.25 fee is for all transactions at non-Charter One ATMs, which may include transfers.
Chase (Downstate)	$1.50	$1.50[39]	50¢
Chase (Upstate)	$1.00	$1.00	25¢[40]		For some accounts, a 25¢-50¢ may be charged for Chase ATM withdrawals depending on balance maintained
Citibank (NY Metro Area)	$1.50[41]	$1.50[42]	50¢
Bank Name	Foreign ATM Fees		Debit Card Point-of-Sale Fees	ATM/Debit Card Replacement Fee	Additional ATM/Debit Card Fees
	Withdrawal Fees	Account Inquiry Fees
Commerce Bank	FREE	FREE	FREE	FREE
Emigrant	$1.00	$1.00	$1.00	$7.00	Also assesses a $9 Fee for ATM/POS transaction resulting in a negative balance
Evergreen	$1.50	$1.50	25¢[43]	$10.00[44]	Also assesses a $1 fee to obtain a mini-statement update at Evergreen ATM
First National Bank of Long Island	$1.50	FREE	60¢	$10.00[45]	Also assesses a 50¢ fee for making an account balance inquiry at an FNBLI ATM
First National Bank of Scotia	$1.00	25¢	10¢	$10.00	Also assesses a $10 fee for a lost PIN (personal identification number)
First Niagra Bank	$1.00	$1.00		$5.00
Fleet	$1.00	$1.00		$5.00	Also assesses a 50¢ fee to obtain a mini-statement update at a Fleet ATM and a $1 fee to obtain a record of your last 10 transactions at a Fleet ATM
Greater Buffalo				$3.00
GreenPoint	$1.00	$1.00	$1.00	$10.00	Also assesses a $5 fee to obtain a new PIN (personal identification number); a 50¢ fee for a denied ATM transaction for insufficient funds; and a $5 fee for an ATM Deposit Discrepancy
HSBC	$1.00	$1.00[46]			Also assesses a $1 fee to obtain an Account Statement Update at an HSBC ATM and a 50¢ fee to obtain a check paid status at an HSBC ATM
Hudson River	$1.00[47]		25¢	$5.00
Independence	$1.00	50¢		$7.00
Long Island Commercial Bank				$5.00[48]
Key Bank	$2.00	$2.00[49]	25¢[50]	$5.00	Also assesses a $1 fee to obtain a mini-statement update at a Key Bank ATM

Bank Name	Foreign ATM Fees		Debit Card Point-of-Sale Fees	ATM/Debit Card Replacement Fee	Additional ATM/Debit Card Fees
	Withdrawal Fees	Account Inquiry Fees
M & T	$1.75	$1.50[51]	50¢	$10.00	Also assesses a 50¢ fee for each ATM mini-statement printed at a M&T ATM and a $1 fee for each full statement printed at a M&T ATM
NBT	$1.00	50¢		$5.00	Also assesses a $1 NBT Banker Cash and Check Card monthly fee
New York Community Bank	$1.50[52]	$1.50	$1.50[53]	$10.00	Also assesses a $2 PIN replacement fee
North Fork	$1.25	$1.00	60¢[54]	$10.00
Oswego County National Bank	$1.00			$5.00[55]
PathFinder	$1.00[56]	55¢			Also assesses a 50¢ fee for the rejection/denial of an attempted ATM transaction at a non-PathFinder ATM
Pioneer	$1.00[57]		50¢	$5.00
Ridgewood	FREE	FREE	FREE	$10.00	Also assesses a $5 PIN replacement fee
SEFCU	95¢	30¢	95¢	$5.00	Also assesses a $7.50 Deposit Correction fee; a $15 fee for the deposit of an empty envelope and a $15 fee for allowed ATM or a denied POS transaction with insufficient funds
SI Bank and Trust	FREE	FREE[58]
Visions Federal CU	$1.50	$1.50	$1.50		All the $1.50 fees are assessed only after the first 5 such transactions per month ≠ the first five transactions are free; Also assesses a $1 debit card inactivity fee when debit card is not used at least once per month at POS
Washington Mutual	$1.00	50¢			Also assesses a 50¢ fee to obtain a mini-statement update at a Washington Mutual ATM

New York Bank ATM/Debit Card Fees Survey Summary

Spring 2004

Survey Results Total # Banks Surveyed - 40	Foreign ATM Fees		Debit Card Point-of-Sale Fees	ATM/Debit Card Replacement Fee
	Withdrawal Fees	Account Inquiry Fees
Percentage of Banks Surveyed that Assess the Fee[59]	92%	86%	89%	97%
Average Fee Assessed in Each Fee Category[60]	$1.28	$1.07	70¢	$6.97

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PRE-PAID CARD FEES

Card	Activation Fee	Annual Participation Fee	POS Transaction Fee	ATM Transaction Fee	Load Fee
Eufora Associate Pre-Paid MasterCard	FREE	$29.95	SEE NOTE[61]	$2.00[62]	$1.00
First Vineyard Stored Value MasterCard	$39.95	$83.40 ($6.95 monthly)	FREE	$2.00[63]	FREE
Four Oaks Pre-Paid VisaCard	$89.95	$47.40 ($3.95 monthly)	50¢	$1.50[64]	$1.00
IndiGOCARD Pre-Paid MasterCard	$99	$108 ($9 monthly)	FREE	99¢	FREE
InstaBanc Platinum Pre-Paid Debit MasterCard	FREE	$150[65]	FREE[66]		FREE
LYFE Stored Value ATM Card	$29.95	$59.40 ($4.95 monthly)	$1.00	$2.00	$2.50
Merrick Bank Pre-Paid MasterCard	$19.95	$59.40 ($4.95 monthly)		$1.50	FREE[67]
NetSpend All Access Pre-Paid MasterCard	$19.95[68]	$71.40 ($5.95 monthly)	$2.00[69]	$2.00	$2.00[70]
Pre-Paid Visa Cash Card	$79.95	$47.40 ($3.95 monthly)	50¢	$1.50[71]	$1.00[72]

Card	Activation Fee	Annual Participation Fee	POS Transaction Fee	ATM Transaction Fee	Load Fee
Rush Visa Card	$19.95	FREE	$1.00	$1.50	FREE[73]
Secure Deposit MasterCard	$79.95	$47.50 ($3.95 monthly)	50¢	$1.50	$1.00[74]
Super VIP Pre-Paid Visa Card	$79.95	$47.50 ($3.95 monthly)	50¢	$1.50	$1.00[75]
U.S. Bank Visa Buxx Card	$15[76]	FREE		$1.50	$2.00[77]
Vaya Pre-Paid MasterCard	$49	$71.40 ($5.95 monthly)		$1.50	FREE
Wired Plastic Stored Value MasterCard	$29.95	$83.40 ($6.95 monthly)		$2.00[78]	FREE[79]
Percentage of Cards that Assess the Fee[80]	87%	87%	70%	100%	53%
Average Fee Assessed in Each Fee Category[81]	$50.12	$69.70	86¢	$1.64	$1.44

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Definitions:

Activation Fee ≠ A one-time fee assessed to obtain the card. This fee is also called an application fee. Fee typically includes a membership fee, account set-up fee and a card issuance and embossing fee.

Participation Fee ≠ A card maintenance fee assessed annually or monthly.

POS Transaction Fee ≠ A point-of-sale fee assessed each time cardholder makes a purchase with their card.

ATM Transaction Fee ≠ A fee assessed each time cardholder uses their card to withdraw money from an Automated Teller Machine. This fee is in addition to the ATM surcharge fee assessed by the ATM owner.

Load Fee ≠ A fee assessed each time funds are uploaded into the account.

CREDIT CARD APR[82] AND FEE SURVEY

Credit Card Name	APR		Annual Fee	Transfer Balance Fee	Cash Advance Fee	Over Credit Limit Fee	Late Payment Fee
	Introductory[83]	Post-Introductory
American Express Rewards Green Card		None[84]	$65	None[85]	N/A[86]	None[87]	$30[88]
American Express Blue Card	0%	9.99%- 14.99%[89]	None	None	3%[90]	$29	$15[91]
Bank of America Visa Platinum	8.9%	11.99%- 16.99%	None	None	3%[92]	$35	$19[93]
Bank One Personal Platinum Visa	0%	8.99%- 14.99%[94]	None	3%[95]	3%[96]	$35	$15[97]
Capital One Bank Mastercard		8.9%	None	None	3% [98]	$29	$29[99]
Citibank Platinum Select Mastercard		9.99%[100]	None	3%[101]	3%[102]	$35	$15[103]
Citibank AA Advantage World Mastercard		13.99%[104]	$50	3%