No Fees at Houston Bank ATMs Post-Harvey

It’s easy to mock banks these days for ludicrous, self-serving rules that seem to do little more than line pockets—like the practice of overdraft fees for those with savings and checking accounts at the same bank—but sometimes there’s a glimmer of hope. With Hurricane Harvey—now Tropical Storm Harvey as of this writing—still dealing damage to the Houston area, several major banks are cutting back on fees in a bid to help out.

JPMorgan Chase is front and center on this development, with over 200 branches in the region, delivering relief on ATM fees. The fees will either be outright waived or refunded through September 10 for customers in the Houston area. Plus, this also applies to overdraft fees, monthly service banking fees, and late fees for several different products including mortgages, credit cards, and auto loans.

Other banks are doing similarly; Comerica has shut down all its Houston-area bank branches, but is waiving ATM fees, and has also “…activated our crisis response team” in a bid to help further. Bank of America is keeping its ATM network active, and will automatically refund fees incurred at that network. Even local players like BB&T are making moves on this front, and several banks are setting up donations to chip in and help clean up.

It’s good news, sure, especially for all those who are just trying to get a little extra cash in the middle of a disaster. It would be easy to cynically dismiss these efforts—particularly the refund schemes; seriously, guys, you couldn’t just not take the bite instead of giving the bite back later?—as attempts to curry favor with the general public. Given the recent hit bank and insurance stocks took on the S&P 500 recently, it’s not so out of line to suggest some goodwill is necessary.

Still, let’s take it for what it’s worth. Some major, and some not so major, banks are voluntarily passing up on profit to help some people out. That’s good news no matter how you slice it or what went into the decision. Since cash still remains the most widely-accepted mobile payments tool, getting access to it in a disaster is a vital operation, one that some banks are really helping out on.