Q. Did the Kalabash ATM network start charging fees for non-member use? I noticed an ATM surcharge when I pulled out money from one of the machines recently. I am with a bank that's not part of the teller machine network.

A. Sadly, yes. After about 12 years of mostly free service to all comers, there is now a charge for non-member use at most Kalabash ATMs.

The surcharge began last month. The Honolulu City and County Employees Federal Credit Union, the owner and operator of the 40 Kalabash teller machines around the state, said it needed the fee to help offset some of the costs of operating ATMS.

There's now a 95-cent fee for withdrawing money that's charged to folks who aren't members of the credit union or other credit unions that are part of its network. There are still a dozen Kalabash ATMs where fees don't apply. But more on this later.

"We kind of liked the fact that there weren't a lot of surcharge-free ATMS out there any more and we were one of the only ones," said Christy Ramones, Honolulu City and County Employees Federal Credit Union electronic services manager.

"But the fee was added mainly to subsidize some of the costs of maintaining an ATM network."

Using another bank's ATM may be convenient but it can cost you.

A survey of ATM fees by Bankrate.com late last year found the average surcharge is now $1.64. Moreover, the survey found that the number of banks that have surcharges for non-customers had risen to 98 percent. Bankrate.com said Americans pay $4.2 billion a year in ATM fees.

So you stand to save money by staying with your own financial institution's ATMs when you need money.

You can also look at becoming a customer of banks, credit unions, or online institutions that reimburse you for surcharges. Some credit unions locally are part of the Co-op Network, which provides members with surcharge-free withdrawals at 25,000 ATMs across the country.

Ramones said people also can find some Kalabash network ATMs that are free of surcharges.

She said under an agreement with Macy's, the credit union can't have surcharge fees for the 11 Kalabash ATMs located within those department stores.

Another surcharge-free ATM is located within the University of Hawai'i Medical School in Kaka'ako.

For a list of where the ATMs are within Macy's, go to www.kalanet.com and click on the Kalabash ATM locator on the left-hand side of the page.

Do you have a question about personal finance, taxes or other money matters? Reach Akamai Money columnist Greg Wiles at 525-8088 or gwiles@honoluluadvertiser.com