Visa, Mastercard $167.5 million settlement could mean money for ATM users. Who qualifies.

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Visa, Mastercard $167.5 million settlement could mean money for ATM users. Who qualifies.

Hal Bundrick, CFP® · Senior Writer

Fri, September 18, 2026 at 8:41 PM GMT+3 2 min read

Visa and Mastercard ATM cash withdrawals spanning roughly 19 years are part of a class-action lawsuit settlement totaling $167.5 million.

The case, known as Burke v. Visa Inc., involves independent ATMs often found in convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, hotels, and bars — non-bank locations that often levy surcharges on cash withdrawals.

Here's who is eligible for a cash payment as part of the settlement.

Read more: Just received a settlement? 5 smart ways to use the money.

What is the class-action lawsuit about?

The legal complaint claimed that cardholders nationwide paid excessive ATM fees that were not fully reimbursed, violating federal and state antitrust laws. The lawsuit covers ATM cash withdrawals over nearly two decades, from Oct. 24, 2007, to Aug. 14, 2026.

Court documents allege that independent ATM operators were not allowed to charge cardholders a lower fee by using card networks other than Visa and Mastercard.

"If permitted to do so, ATM operators would have an economic incentive to pass on to customers the benefit of using the lower-cost, higher net revenue 'rival networks' in the form of lower, or discounted, access fees," the claim stated.

Visa (V) and Mastercard (MA) opted to settle the case without admitting liability.

The settlement also covers separate, state-specific classes of claimants in California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Michigan.

Who is eligible to receive the settlement?

Eligibility includes claimants who used a Visa or Mastercard to withdraw cash from a deposit account using an independent ATM (not owned by a financial institution) in the U.S. and were charged a surcharge or access fee that the cardholder's bank did not fully reimburse.

Transactions must have been made between Oct. 24, 2007, and Aug. 14, 2026.

How much will the settlement pay?

The $167.5 million settlement fund will pay attorneys' fees and expenses, administrative costs, taxes, and payouts to eligible class members. The amount of cash payments to eligible cardholders will depend on the number of valid claims filed.

Deadline to file a claim

Claim forms may be submitted at www.nonbankatmsurchargesettlement.com. The submission deadline is Feb. 10, 2027. You may also exclude yourself or object to the settlement at the same web address.

Payments will be issued following a final court hearing in early 2027.

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