No Fee ATMs

Implications: Are ATM fee free ATMs the wave of the future?

Effect on cost of operation in an ATM fee free environment.  How will it affect operational costs?

Benefit for the Financial Institution.

Analysis: It appears that many financial institutions are evaluating the waving of fees at out of network ATM machines.  Lately this strategy is being adopted by financial institutions that have large networks of their own. 
Some of the considerations to be evaluated are the cost of network operation if this path is chosen by an institution.  What will the impact be on the cost of operation?  One avenue of thought is to create an ATM Checking Product.  While this concept is not new, it could be a way to increase account business.  The main consideration is how to limit the number of accesses that would be allowed at foreign ATMs.  What is the break even point on this type of account? 
Another alternative is to join a surcharge free network in which financial institutions pool their ATMs so that any surcharge free financial institution allows the customers of surcharge free member banks to do transactions at any of their ATMs without any charge.  All in all, this concept will bear watching to evaluate the impact to both the institution and the consumer.