Wilmington, DE, November 12, 2009:   According to a recent survey, paying ATM fees "angers" more consumers than overdraft fees.  Conducted by ING DIRECT, the nation's largest direct bank, 26% of those surveyed felt "more angry" about having to pay for using an ATM compared to 24% citing overdraft charges as their primary complaint.(1)

The survey found that 20% of  ATM users are charged a fee at least once a month for using an ATM not affiliated with their primary bank's network.  Of those, 59% paid on average $2.00 or more in ATM fees when they withdrew money.  On a withdrawal of $40, which is the median according to the survey, consumers charged a $2.00 fee about once a month could end up spending more than $1,200 in ATM fees over 50 years.

Another ING DIRECT survey, conducted earlier this year, found that adults with children were more likely to incur ATMs fees than consumers without children:

• 28% who use an ATM incur ATM fees at least once a month, nearly double that of Americans without children (16%).

• 60% of parents who have been charged an ATM fee were charged $2.00 or more for these ATM withdrawals.

• 22% of parents with children under six years old who have been charged an ATM fee are being charged $3.00 or more for these withdrawals.

Two-thirds (67%) of consumers who have been charged an ATM fee blame banks for "nickel and diming" them while 33% blame themselves for "poor planning." 

(1) This national online survey was conducted within the United States by Harris Interactive® on behalf of ING DIRECT between October 5 - October 7, 2009 among 2,046 adults age 18+, 1,462 of whom were ATM users.

(2) This national online survey was conducted within the United States by Harris Interactive® on behalf of ING DIRECT between April 6-8, 2009 among 2,123 adults age 18+, 535 of whom were parents of children under age 18.

Source: ING DIRECT