Skip to Content

Summer Budget Travel Tips from Gadling

Out-of-network ATM fees? iPhone Apps to the rescue

More
Text SizeAAA

Filed under: Banks, Budgets, Simplification, Technology, Economizer

When one bank fee dies, another one is born to fill its place; so what's a consumer to do? Well, thanks to technology, keeping on top of your accounts and locating a nearby surcharge-free ATM is as easy as updating your Facebook status.

With ATM fees rising and bank fees as a whole on the rise, staying on top of your banking is an absolute must. RecessionWire has a very useful listing of iPhone Apps to help you avoid bank fees or at least minimize them when using an out-of-network ATM. Some of the most useful include:

  • Bank of America App (Free) - Account tracking and in-network ATM locating
  • Wesabe (Free) - Account tracking
  • PocketMoney (Lite version Free, $4.99 for Full) - Account tracking
  • Quicken (Free) - Account tracking and in-network ATM locating
  • Mint (Free) - Account tracking
  • TapFinder ($.99) -ATM locating
While Apple's popular iPhone certainly has the most apps available to help you avoid a bank fee, there are plenty of ways for Windows Mobile, Blackberry, Android and even regular cell phone users without apps and web access to do the same.

Several of the Apps listed above, like the Bank of America App, also work on Android and BlackBerry phones, giving users quick access to their accounts. Others like Wesabe, Mint and Quicken also offer mobile web versions of their site optimized for the small screen to let you query the balance in your accounts, and, in Quicken's case, where the closest ATM is. There are also several other applications in the Android marketplace to help members of specific credit unions locate ATMs.

If you don't have a web-enabled cell phone, fear not; you can still stay on top of important financial information via text messages. Yodlee, for example, is a free personal financial service which connects to your bank and credit accounts and can provide numerous text alerts based on criteria you choose, such as a low balance warning.

Finding a surcharge-free ATM with a text message is also easy. Just text message Google at (466453) with the name of your bank and your location and you'll receive a text message with the local listings. For example, "Bank of America Toledo Ohio" returned three local branches. I could then text message Google, "directions [my location] to [banks address]" to find out how to get there.

So, no matter what kind of cell phone you have, it's easier than ever to check your account balances and avoid costly bank fees while you're on the go.

Subscribe to Walletpop

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Add your comments

Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.

When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.

To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br /> tags.

How Much Should I Save?

$
$
%
Eloise Returns to the Plaza Hotel
After a $450 million, three-year, lobby to roof renovation and restoration, the Plaza Hotel is ...
Readers' Choice Winners for Best in Food
Votes have been cast for Best Gourmet Grocer/Food Hall, Best Online Gourmet Goods, Best Cheese ...

Martha C. White
Martha C. White Filed under: Banks

Bank practices: The good, the bad, and the ugly

A lot of Americans have plenty to say about their banks these days, and it's not always pretty -- we've heard you in the comments section. We wanted to call out some of banks' slimier tricks for ...
Mitch Lipka
Mitch Lipka Filed under: Consumer Ally

The unstoppable Kevin Trudeau: Infamous infomercial king is at it again

Even if you don't know Kevin Trudeau by name, you'll likely recognize his face. You've probably seen him while channel surfing during a bout of insomnia; he's the perfectly coiffed guy who confidently ...
Diane Wedner
Diane Wedner Filed under: Real Estate

Biggest is better Down Under

Move over, gluttonous U.S. homeowners. Australians now eclipse Americans in building the largest homes, Reuters has reported. What, you thought Americans are the only ones who gobble up square ...
Julia Scott
Julia Scott Filed under: Bargain Babe

Cash back shopping with Bing

Today is the last day to earn cash rebates by shopping and buying through Microsoft's newish search engine Bing. The cashback deals are, frankly, insane. 15t back at Dell. 35% back at T-mobile and ...

Banking Tools

Use these bank account calculators and tools to help you make the smartest bank account moves.

    Headlines from WalletPop Partners