WaMu Abandons 'No-Surcharge' ATMPolicy

SEATTLE - (11/09/05) -- Washington Mutual announced Tuesdayit will begin charging non-customers a surcharge when they use oneof the mutual thrift giant's 3,500 ATMs in Washington, Californiaand several states. WaMu had introduced a no-surcharge policy morethan two years ago to attract new customers in newly enteredmarkets, like New York, Florida, and Illinois, but a bank spokesmansaid lines have gotten long at many of WaMu's ATMs because of theattraction to non-customers. Starting Nov. 17 WaMu will begincharging surcharges of $1.50 in Washington, California and mostother states, and $2 in Oregon, Florida, Georgia, Illinois andNevada.