Do Allpoint ATMs Charge a Fee? No, But There's a Catch

If you live in the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, or Canada and frequently withdraw cash, you'll have probably used an Allpoint ATM at one point or another. While not always recognisable, there are currently around 230 thousand Allpoint ATMs worldwide, often found in convenient locations such as malls and busy city streets.

However, while Allpoint ATMs charge no fees of their own (making them an excellent choice to withdraw cash cheaply), this doesn't mean you won't pay any fees to your card issuer or bank. In this guide, we explore the main costs you could still encounter when withdrawing money from Allpoint ATMs and the best ways to avoid them entirely.

What is Allpoint?

Allpoint is a US-based ATM network (officially an "interbank network") that operates ATMs in four countries. As of 2023, it is the largest ATM network globally, with over 230 thousand machines and 1,100 participating financial institutions, including banks, card programs, and credit unions.

Allpoint's business model is built on allowing smaller partners to access their customers via ATMs when building dedicated ATM networks of their own is not viable for their business.

Allpoint ATMs: USA, UK, and Worldwide

Allpoint ATMs are available in the United States (including Puerto Rico), the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and Canada.

Being the largest ATM network globally, it should come as no surprise that Allpoint ATMs can be found pretty much everywhere. In central London alone, around 200 Allpoint ATMs are scattered around the city's supermarkets, malls, kiosks, tourist locations, street corners, and other prominent locations. However, the machines themselves aren't always recognizable, as many use their partner's branding.

What's more, Allpoint is frequently expanding its network, with new major partners such as the US convenience store Speedway and the commercial bank Five Star Bank having joined Allpoint in the recent past.

Are Allpoint ATMs Safe and Secure?

Yes, Allpoint ATMs are very safe to use and are partnered with over 1,100 participating financial institutions, including banks, card programs, and credit unions across the globe. What's more, since Allpoint doesn't charge sneaky withdrawal fees, it's also a very transparent and trustworthy ATM network.

This means you can be totally secure in using an Allpoint ATM to withdraw cash, whether at home or abroad.

Allpoint ATM Locator

If you'd like to find the nearest Allpoint ATM to you, then check out Allpoint's ATM locator (the link opens in a new tab).

Allpoint ATM Fee Structure Explained

Simply put, Allpoint charges no fees whatsoever on all types of ATM withdrawals. This means that, as a consumer, you won't have to worry about being charged by Allpoint for withdrawing any amount of cash at any frequency ⁠— even if it's in a foreign currency.

What's more, Allpoint also does not use a process known as dynamic currency conversion (DCC), which gives ATM users the option of being charged in their home currency rather than the local currency. This means that you will only withdraw money from Allpoint ATMs in the local currency, e.g. US dollars in the United States or British pounds in the United Kingdom, and avoid the high fees that come along with this conversion.

However, it's still possible that withdrawing from an Allpoint ATM can result in a small fee reflecting on your card or bank statement. This can occur for the following reasons:

• your bank charges for out-of-network withdrawals,
• your bank or card issuer (e.g. VISA or Mastercard) charges a small FX margin (an exchange rate that's different from the 'real' exchange rate you find on Google),
• your bank charges a currency conversion fee.

As you can see, most of these fees only apply to international travel. For example, foreign banks (especially those from countries where Allpoint doesn't operate) may charge an out-of-network ATM fee for all withdrawals outside of their own network. Similarly, even in cases where Allpoint withdrawals would ordinarily be free, card issuers and some banks can still charge their own fees or exchange rates for converting currency.

Take a look at the table below to see how these currency conversion fees can play out at the two extremes:

The good news is that when they apply, these fees will be very low in most instances. For example, VISA and Mastercard exchange rates usually don't constitute more than 0.8% of the transaction value, and the cost of an Allpoint withdrawal can only get pricey if the card product your bank offers you charges high fees for currency conversion.

Is It Worth Withdrawing Money From Allpoint ATMs?

Everything considered, yes, Allpoint ATMs are worth it, and we recommend using them wherever possible because of their zero-surcharge promise and widespread availability. However, if you're travelling overseas and withdrawing cash in a foreign currency, we recommend withdrawing from Allpoint ATMs with a prepaid debit card like Revolut (more on below).

ATM Networks to Avoid

Of course, Allpoint is not the only company to make money on exchange rate surcharges and high cash withdrawal fees. It always pays to check carefully before using any ATM to ensure you won't be charged. In particular, you should be wary of using the following ATM brands:

• Euronet
• Travelex
• NoteMachine (some machines only)
• Cardpoint
• IC Cash Services
• August Lenz banking house.

Fortunately, most ATMs won't charge you if you need to withdraw cash in the USA, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, or the UK. Those who do should always clearly state how much you'll be charged before you conduct a transaction.

Bank branch ATMs, in particular, are usually a safe bet. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the decline in cash usage, more ATMs are disappearing from the UK's high streets, so you may need to travel further to find one.  

If you're travelling overseas, the best way to find a cheap ATM is to chat with locals or tourists. In many countries, the fees charged at ATMs vary from operator to operator. Always avoid dynamic currency conversion and stick to the local currency wherever you are.

Save Money With Revolut

If you want to withdraw money and spend abroad free of charge, another option is to consider Revolut. Although it won’t protect you from fees charged by ATM operators, it does mean you’ll always receive the mid-market rate without any exchange rate surcharges when withdrawing money (although third-party ATM charges and weekend surcharges may apply).

When using your Revolut debit card at an Allpoint ATM, you won't be charged a fee. If you use your card at a non-Allpoint ATM, you might be charged a 2% fee or $400 or currency equivalent withdrawn monthly (depending on whether the network is in or out of Revolut's network). In comparison, typical debit cards issued by the bank will charge you between 2.75% and 2.99% for foreign transactions and 2.99% for withdrawals. On a $100 withdrawal, this could cost $5.98. 

If you use a standard credit card for your withdrawal, you’ll also be charged interest on top – which will be charged from the transaction date, even if you pay off your balance at the end of the month. Find out more about Revolut in our review.