ViewPoint Bank to Refund ATM Fees on Absolute Checking

That's what customers of ViewPoint Bank's popular free Absolute Checking product will now see on their statements if they use another bank's ATM. On October 1, the Plano-based community bank began refunding any fees charged by other ATM owners to Absolute Checking account holders. "We're always looking for ways to make things more convenient for our customers," said ViewPoint Bank President and CEO Kevin Hanigan. "Giving them the ability to use any ATM worldwide for free certainly does that." Given Bankrate.com's recent report on the increasing rarity of free checking accounts and the growing cost of out-of-network ATMs1, Absolute Checking is an anomaly. It's a free checking account that also pays interest, with no minimum balance requirements. Other freebies include free ViewPoint Bank custom checks, free online bill pay, and a free safe deposit box for one year. (Note: Absolute Checking is only available in Texas.) The Bankrate 2012 Checking Survey reports that only 39 percent of banks offered a checking account with no minimum balance requirement and no monthly fee, down from 76 percent in 2009.