Question

Your​ bank, First​ Bank, charges you​ $1.50 every time you use an ATM that is not owned by them.​ Unfortunately, there is no First Bank ATM near your school. There is a Second Bank ATM in the Student​ Center, which you use several times a week to withdraw​ $10 at a time for​ lunch, video​ games, etc. What is the best piece of advice regarding these​ transactions?

a. They will make it hard to balance your account since these transactions won't show up on your monthly statements.
b. They're OK as long as you enter the transactions in your check register.
c. Avoid them since you are effectively paying 15% interest to access your cash.
d. Make sure you have over draft protection on your account.

Answer 1

The answer is: C) Avoid them since you are effectively paying 15% interest to access your cash.

Step-by-step explanation:

Every time you are withdrawing $10 from the Second Bank ATM you are paying 15% interest (or bank expenses). That is a lot of money, so you should try to avoid doing it. You should look for a First Bank ATM that is close to your home and withdraw the money before going to school. Or if you can't find an ATM from your bank you might even have to change your bank.

If you can't change your bank for whatever reason and you really need to withdraw money from Second Bank ATM my advice would be to try to withdraw larger sums so you only do it once a week or once every two weeks. Since the $1.50 per operation is a fixed amount, if you withdraw $50, you are only paying 3% interest.