Official Notice from Banco Santander to Its Customers About ATMs: Be Very Careful With This

Banco Santander, one of the banks with the largest presence and number of customers in Spain, has issued an important notice. This time, about the fees that may apply when withdrawing money from ATMs of other entities.

Although the bank offers a wide network of fee-free ATMs for its customers, the situation changes when ATMs from other banks are used. This can lead to additional costs. That's why Banco Santander has alerted its users to the charges they might face when using non-Santander ATMs.

What Happens If I Withdraw Money from an ATM That Is Not Banco Santander's?

Banco Santander has more than 7,000 ATMs throughout Spain, where customers can withdraw money without paying fees. But if you decide to use an ATM from another entity, such as BBVA, CaixaBank, or Banco Sabadell, the fees will be unavoidable. These types of charges remain common in the Spanish banking system because there is no general agreement among banks to eliminate these fees.

When a Banco Santander customer uses a non-Santander ATM, the fees can range from 0.50 euros to 2 euros, depending on the bank and the type of transaction. For example, if you withdraw money from a BBVA ATM, you will be charged a fee of 1.87 euros.

If you do so at a Banco Sabadell or Unicaja ATM, the charge will be 1.80 euros. If you decide to use a CaixaBank ATM, the fee can rise to 2 euros.

Why Do Fees for Using Other Banks' ATMs Still Exist?

The reason behind these fees is the lack of a global agreement among banks to eliminate charges for using ATMs of other entities. Each bank operates its own ATM infrastructure.

Therefore, its own fee policies. These fees are intended to cover the operational and maintenance costs of the ATMs, which banks do not want to bear when a customer from another bank uses their machines.

Although these fees may seem like a nuisance for users, banks apply them to ensure that the costs of providing this service are covered. The problem is that there is not always a free alternative nearby, and many customers are forced to pay to access their own money at other banks' ATMs.

How to Avoid Fees from Non-Santander ATMs?

Although fees for using other banks' ATMs remain a reality, Banco Santander has made various solutions available to its customers to avoid these additional expenses. The first of these is the extensive network of ATMs that the bank has throughout Spain. There are more than 7,000 ATMs where various operations can be performed, such as withdrawing money, making transfers, and checking balances, all without fees.

Since 2020, Banco Santander has adopted a policy of not charging fees for withdrawing money from ATMs of other entities. But only if it is done within the bank's own ATM network. However, if you decide to use an ATM outside this network, the fees will still apply.