N.J. might require ATMs to be more upfront with fees

One of New Jersey’s legislative leaders wants to make sure you know there may be a charge for checking the balance of your account on an automatic teller machine.

A bill sponsored by Assembly Speaker Vinnie Prieto would require an ATM screen to prominently display any fee assessed for a balance inquiry.

“It’s tough enough for people making ends meet today, so for them to lose money on a transaction that’s a non-transaction, that you’re really just looking at what you have in your account, you should know ahead of time so you can say yea or nay if you want to proceed,” he said.

The small fee can be a big deal for the working poor and middle class residents, said Prieto, D-Hudson.

If the measure becomes law, ATM operators that violate it could face fines of up to $1,000 a day.