Evanston-based First Bank & Trust says that despite moves by larger banks to start charging debit card fees, it will continue to offer no-fee debit cards.
First Bank CEO Robert Yohanan says the bank will also continue to reimburse up to eight surcharges a month for out-of-network ATM transactions.
“First Bank & Trust is not hopping on the bandwagon with the bigger banks who are charging customers monthly debit card fees of up to $5 per month and increasing ATM fees,” Yohanen said in a news release. “There is no value added to the customer experience in relationship to the service fees. The fees merely serve a one-sided goal for the banks to recoup profits” limited by new federal legislation.
Bank of America has announced plans to charge a $5 per month fee to customers who used their debit card for purchases, and Wells Fargo and Chase have been testing a $3 per month debit card fee.