House passes bill to let banks charge travelers ATM fees

Unhappy about paying a $3 or $5 ATM teller fee when you're traveling in Europe?

Well, the Utah Legislature can't do anything about those fees. But at least Utah can ding foreign tourists at local ATMs like those foreign banks ding Utah travelers.

With a unanimous vote, the House passed HB88 Tuesday.

Sponsor Rep. Julie Fisher, R-Fruit Heights, said Visa and MasterCard have special agreements with foreign banks that don't allow such fees in the United States. The huge institutions ignored a more hazily worded Utah law passed a year ago, said Fisher.

This bill makes it clear that local financial institutions can charge fees similar to those charged at foreign ATMs, she added.