Banking consumers had to dig deeper into their pocket again last year, as ATM fees climbed to a record high for the 11th consecutive year, according to the latest Bankrate.com checking study.

The average total cost of an out-of-network ATM withdrawal is now $4.69, an increase of 2.6% from $4.57 last year. ATM fees soared 55% over the past decade, according to Bankrate, which has surveyed non-interest and interest accounts for 20 years.

Consumers usually get stuck with two different fees when they use an out-of-network ATM: the surcharge assessed by the ATM owner on a non-customer and the fee charged by the account-holder’s own bank for using another bank’s ATM.

The average ATM surcharge reached a record for the 13th straight year, rising to $2.97 from $2.90 last year. The average fee charged by a consumer’s own bank for going outside the ATM network increased 3% to $1.72, also a new high, according to Bankrate.

Consumers are dealing with other elevated fees related to bank transactions. After seeing a slight dip in 2016, the average overdraft fee has bounced back to a new high of $33.38, up from $33.04 last year. The number of banks that increased their fee outnumbered those who lowered it by seven to one.

Consumers in Pittsburgh are faced with the highest average out-of-network ATM fee ($5.19) of all the top 25 major metro areas, while those in Dallas have the lowest ($4.07). Patrons in Philadelphia are saddled with the highest average overdraft fee ($35.30), compared with San Francisco whose overdraft fees are the most lenient ($31.44 on average).

The survey group consisted of a total of 10 banks and thrifts in each of 25 large U.S. markets; one interest and one non-interest account, as well as their associated ATM and debit card fee policies were surveyed from 247 institutions offering checking accounts; 241 interest and 240 non-interest accounts were surveyed between July 27 and August 18, 2017.

Highest Average ATM Fee by Metro Area*

1. Pittsburgh	$5.19
2. New York	$5.14
3. Washington, D.C.	$5.11
3. Cleveland	$5.11
5. Atlanta	$5.05

 

Lowest Average ATM Fee by Metro Area*

21. Cincinnati	$4.30
22. Seattle	$4.29
23. San Francisco	$4.23
24. Milwaukee	$4.19
25. Dallas	$4.07

*Reflects both ATM fees combined (those charged by the ATM operator and those charged by the consumer’s own financial institution).

 

Highest Average Overdraft Fee by Metro

1. Philadelphia	$35.30
2. Baltimore	$35.25
3. Miami	$34.68
4. New York	$34.63
5. San Diego	$34.22

 

Lowest Average Overdraft Fee by Metro

21. Seattle	$32.20
22. St. Louis	$31.85
23. Detroit	$31.80
24. Boston	$31.79
25. San Francisco	$31.44

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