ATM Fees in Canada: What Using Another Bank’s Machine Really Costs
Every big Canadian bank charges $2.00 when you take cash from a machine it does not own, and the machine’s owner usually adds a fee of its own. On a small withdrawal, that can cost more than a sixth of the cash you get.
- Fees and terms checked November 8, 2026
- By Krish Paul
- 6 min read
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We pulled the current fee schedules from RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO and CIBC and worked out what an ATM habit costs over a year.
The short answer
Using another bank’s ATM in Canada costs $2.00 per withdrawal at RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO and CIBC on most everyday accounts, plus whatever the ATM owner charges. The owner’s fee varies by machine. Two small withdrawals a month at those rates add up to about $132 a year.
The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC) shows how this stacks up. In its example, a $40 withdrawal carried a $3.50 convenience fee, a $2.00 network access fee and a $1.25 excess transaction fee. That is $6.75 in fees, or about 17% of the cash, for a total cost of $46.75.
The three fees you can pay at one machine
FCAC lists three separate charges. You can pay all three on a single withdrawal.
- Network access fee. Your own bank charges this when you use an ATM it does not own. At the big five it is $2.00 in Canada.
- Convenience fee. The ATM owner charges this. It can be a private operator or another bank where you have no account. BMO notes that this fee is added to the total amount of your withdrawal.
- Withdrawal or excess transaction fee. If your account has a monthly transaction limit, a withdrawal over that limit can cost extra. FCAC’s example includes a $1.25 excess transaction fee.
What each big bank charges
These are the fees each bank charges its own customers on everyday accounts. The ATM owner’s fee comes on top.
| Bank | Other ATM in Canada | Outside Canada and U.S. | Fee schedule date |
|---|---|---|---|
| TD | $2.00 | $5.00 | March 5, 2026 |
| RBC | $2.00 | $5.00 | Not dated on page |
| Scotiabank | $2.00 | $5.00 | Sept. 1, 2026 |
| BMO | $2.00 | $5.00 | June 2, 2026 |
| CIBC | $2.00 | $5.00 + 2.5% | March 12, 2026 |
Everyday accounts only. RBC Day to Day Banking also adds its debit transaction fee. CIBC’s 2.5% is an administration fee on foreign withdrawals.
In the U.S., TD and CIBC charge $3.00 per withdrawal (TD charges the same in Mexico), and BMO charges $5.00 at any ATM outside Canada. TD also adds a foreign exchange fee equal to 3.5% of the foreign cash you receive.
Accounts that include free withdrawals
Higher-fee packages often cover the bank’s $2.00 charge:
- TD: no fee at non-TD ATMs in Canada on Unlimited Chequing and the All-Inclusive Banking Plan.
- RBC: free with an RBC VIP Client Card. Signature No Limit Banking refunds 3 a month, then charges $2.00 each.
- Scotiabank: the Preferred Package includes 1 free withdrawal a month. The Ultimate Package includes unlimited.
- BMO: the Performance Plan includes 1 a month. The Premium Plan includes unlimited.
- CIBC: the Smart Account rebates 1 a month at its first balance tier, and unlimited withdrawals once your balance reaches $40,000.
These waivers cover the bank’s fee only. Scotiabank says you may still pay a convenience fee to the other bank or ATM operator, and CIBC says its rebate is limited to the CIBC fee.
What an ATM habit costs in a year
Here is a hypothetical example. You take out $40 at an ATM your bank does not own. Your bank charges $2.00, and the owner charges $3.50, the same convenience fee FCAC uses in its example. That is $5.50 per withdrawal, or 13.75% of the cash.
| How often | Withdrawals a year | Fees a year | Fees over 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Own bank’s ATM, twice a month | 24 | $0 | $0 |
| Once a month | 12 | $66 | $330 |
| Twice a month | 24 | $132 | $660 |
| Every week | 52 | $286 | $1,430 |
Hypothetical example. Assumes no transaction limit fees. Owner fees vary by machine.
The fee is flat, so small withdrawals hurt most. The same $5.50 is 13.75% of $40 but 5.5% of $100. If you need cash anyway, one larger withdrawal costs less than several small ones.
Travelling? The fees climb
Abroad, the bank fee rises and a percentage can be added on top. Take a hypothetical $300 withdrawal, in Canadian dollars, outside Canada and the U.S.:
- TD: $5.00 plus 3.5% of $300 ($10.50) comes to $15.50.
- CIBC: $5.00 plus 2.5% of $300 ($7.50) comes to $12.50.
Neither figure includes the local ATM owner’s fee or the exchange rate itself. Tangerine says its clients get free access to 44,000 ATMs worldwide through Scotiabank’s Global ATM Alliance. For card spending abroad, see our guide to foreign transaction fees.
Online banks and partner networks
If you rarely see your own bank’s ATMs, an online bank with a partner network can cut the cost to zero.
- Tangerine: free at more than 3,500 Scotiabank ATMs in Canada. Other ATMs cost $1.50 in Canada and $3 worldwide outside the Global ATM Alliance.
- Simplii Financial: free access to over 3,400 CIBC ATMs across Canada.
- EQ Bank: says its card includes free withdrawals from any ATM in Canada. Read the card terms for the conditions.
With a Tangerine card at a private ATM charging $3.50, you would pay $5.00 per withdrawal instead of $5.50. The real saving comes from using the free partner machines. Our list of free bank accounts in Canada covers who can get one.
Before you take out cash
A few checks keep ATM fees close to zero.
- Find your own bank’s machineUsing your own financial institution’s ATMs is the first tip on FCAC’s list.
- Ask for cash backFCAC suggests getting cash back from merchants that offer it at no charge.
- Take out more, less oftenThe fees are flat, so one $100 withdrawal costs the same as one $40 withdrawal.
- Watch your transaction limitGoing over your plan’s monthly limit can add a fee on top.
- Never use a credit cardTaking cash with a credit card is a cash advance, which is priced differently from purchases. See our cash advance cost guide.
Is a premium account worth it for ATM fees?
Usually not on ATM fees alone. RBC VIP Banking lists a $30.00 monthly fee and BMO Premium lists $30.95. Saving $132 a year in ATM fees would cover only part of that. A premium plan makes sense when you would use its other features too, or when you keep enough in the account to have the monthly fee waived. If your account charges you for overdrafts as well, see our breakdown of overdraft protection fees.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to use another bank’s ATM in Canada?
RBC, TD, Scotiabank, BMO and CIBC each charge $2.00 per withdrawal at an ATM they do not own on most everyday accounts. The ATM owner can add its own convenience fee on top. In the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s example, the fees on a $40 withdrawal came to $6.75.
Do premium bank accounts waive ATM fees?
Some do. Scotiabank Ultimate and BMO Premium include unlimited non-network withdrawals in Canada, TD lists no fee on Unlimited Chequing and the All-Inclusive Banking Plan, and RBC VIP Banking is free with an RBC VIP Client Card. Scotiabank and CIBC both say the ATM owner can still charge its own fee.
How much are ATM fees outside Canada?
All five big banks charge $5.00 per withdrawal outside Canada and the U.S. on their everyday plans. TD and CIBC charge $3.00 in the U.S., and BMO charges $5.00 anywhere outside Canada. TD adds a 3.5% foreign exchange fee and CIBC adds a 2.5% administration fee.
How can I avoid ATM fees in Canada?
Use your own bank’s ATMs, take out larger amounts less often, and ask for cash back at stores that offer it at no charge. If your bank has a partner network, such as Tangerine with Scotiabank or Simplii with CIBC, those machines are free.
Do online banks charge ATM fees?
It depends on the bank. Tangerine is free at Scotiabank ATMs and charges $1.50 at other ATMs in Canada. Simplii is free at CIBC ATMs. EQ Bank says its card includes free withdrawals from any ATM in Canada, so read the card terms for the conditions.
- Sources, checked November 8, 2026: Financial Consumer Agency of Canada: ATM fees; TD Canada Trust: List of Services and Fees, effective March 5, 2026; RBC Royal Bank: account options and service charges; Scotiabank: Day-to-Day Banking Companion Booklet, September 2026; BMO: Agreements, Bank Plans and Fees for Everyday Banking, effective June 2, 2026; CIBC: banking fees and service charges; CIBC: Smart Account rebates and fee changes; Tangerine: No-Fee Chequing Account; Simplii Financial: No Fee Chequing Account; EQ Bank: EQ Bank Card.
- Method: Bank fees are taken from each bank’s current fee schedule for everyday personal accounts. The yearly cost example assumes a $2.00 bank fee plus a $3.50 owner convenience fee, the figure FCAC uses in its example, multiplied by the number of withdrawals. Travel examples add the flat fee to TD’s 3.5% or CIBC’s 2.5% charge on a $300 withdrawal. Calculated by script and checked with a second method. Owner fees vary by machine and are not set by your bank.
Important: This guide is general information, not financial advice. Bank fees and account packages change; confirm the current fees with your bank before you choose an account. Gizly is not paid by any bank named here, and this page has no affiliate links. See our affiliate disclosure.
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How this page was made: Gizly uses AI tools to help research and draft its guides. Krish Paul, the editor, is responsible for what Gizly publishes. Spot an error? Tell us and we will fix it.
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