Coming Soon: New $167.5M ATM Fee Class Action Settlement

Individuals who paid a surcharge or access fee to withdraw cash from an independent, nonbank ATM in the United States after Oct. 24, 2007, may qualify to claim a share of a $167.5 million class action settlement. Class counsel filed a motion for preliminary settlement approval in federal court on Dec. 18, 2025.

Visa Inc. and Mastercard Inc. agreed to pay $167.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging their network rules violated antitrust laws by preventing independent ATM operators from offering lower surcharges for transactions processed on competing networks. As a result, consumers may have paid higher fees than necessary when using nonbank ATMs.

Visa and Mastercard previously settled a separate ATM access fee class action lawsuit involving bank- and financial institution-owned ATMs in July 2024 for $197.5 million.

Who can file an ATM fee claim?

Class members must meet the following criteria:

• They paid a surcharge, also called an access fee, to withdraw cash from their account using an ATM or PIN debit card at an independent ATM located in the United States or its territories.
• Independent ATMs are not owned by a bank or financial institution.

• The transaction occurred between Oct. 24, 2007, and the date the court grants preliminary approval to the settlement.
• The class member's bank did not fully reimburse the ATM surcharge or access fee.

There are two main groups of class members:

• Nationwide class: Anyone in the United States who meets the class member criteria
• Statewide classes: Anyone in California, Illinois, Massachusetts or Michigan who meets the class member criteria

Individuals may be part of more than one class if they made qualifying transactions in multiple states.

Are there any exclusions from the class?

ATM transactions involving credit cards, cash advances or prepaid cards do not qualify for the settlement.

How much will the class action settlement payout be?

Pro rata cash payment: Each approved claimant will receive a pro rata cash payment based on the number of qualifying surcharge and access fee transactions reported by all claimants. The settlement administrator will determine final payment amounts by the total number of valid claims filed.

How to claim a class action rebate

To receive a settlement payment, eligible class members must submit a claim form. They will have the option of submitting a claim form online or printing and mailing a PDF claim to the settlement administrator.

The settlement website and claim form will be available after the court grants preliminary approval of the settlement.

What proof is required to submit a claim?

Class members will not need to provide supporting documentation when submitting a claim. However, the settlement administrator may request additional documentation or proof at a later date.

Payout options

• Digital payment sent to the email address provided
• Paper check mailed to the address provided

$167.5 million ATM surcharge fee settlement fund

The $167,500,000 settlement fund will include:

• Settlement administration costs: Up to $3 million
• Attorneys' fees: Up to $50,250,000
• Attorneys' expenses: Amount to be presented to the court for approval at a later date
• Service awards to class representatives: Up to $17,500 each
• Payments to approved claimants: Remaining settlement funds

Important dates

• Deadline to file a claim: Date announced after the court grants preliminary approval to the settlement
• Final hearing: To be determined

When is the nonbank ATM surcharge settlement payout date?

The settlement administrator estimates it will issue payments to class members with valid claims within six months of final approval if there are no appeals.

Why did this class action settlement happen?

The class action lawsuit alleged that Visa and Mastercard’s network rules prevented independent ATM operators from charging lower surcharges for transactions processed on competing networks, which tje plaintiffs argued violated federal and state antitrust laws. As a result, consumers may have paid higher fees at independent ATMs.

Visa and Mastercard deny the allegations but agreed to settle to avoid the expense and uncertainty of continued litigation and a possible trial.

Sources

1. Class notice
2. Claim form
3. Settlement agreement