The Visa/Mastercard ATM settlement has opened a new claims process for consumers who paid unreimbursed surcharge fees at independently operated ATMs in the United States. Visa and Mastercard have agreed to a proposed $167.5 million settlement in Burke v. Visa Inc., a long-running antitrust case pending in federal court in Washington, D.C.
The settlement covers qualifying non-bank ATM withdrawals made between October 24, 2007, and August 14, 2026. Eligible class members must submit a valid claim by February 10, 2027. The court has granted preliminary approval, but the settlement is not yet final. A fairness hearing is scheduled for February 17, 2027.
What Is the Visa/Mastercard ATM Settlement About?
The lawsuit alleges that Visa and Mastercard used network operating rules that prevented independent ATM operators from charging lower access fees when transactions could be routed over competing networks.
Plaintiffs claimed those rules reduced price competition and caused consumers to pay higher ATM surcharges than they otherwise would have paid.
Visa and Mastercard deny wrongdoing. The proposed settlement resolves the disputed claims without a trial or a court finding that either company violated antitrust law.
Who Qualifies for the Settlement?
The nationwide settlement generally covers people in the United States who paid a surcharge to withdraw cash from a deposit account using an ATM card or PIN-debit card at an independent ATM.
An independent ATM is one not owned by a bank or other financial institution. The ATM must have been located in the United States or its territories.
The qualifying withdrawal must have occurred between October 24, 2007, and August 14, 2026, and the surcharge must not have been fully reimbursed by the cardholder’s bank.
Credit card transactions, cash advances, and prepaid-card transactions are excluded.
How Much Is the Settlement Worth?
Visa and Mastercard agreed to fund a total settlement of $167.5 million. The fund will be used for payments to eligible class members as well as court-approved attorneys’ fees, litigation expenses, settlement administration costs, taxes, and any service awards.
The final amount each claimant receives is not fixed. Valid claimants will receive a pro rata share of the net settlement fund.
That means the individual payment will depend on factors such as the total number of approved claims and the number of qualifying ATM surcharge transactions reported.
Do Consumers Need Proof to File a Claim?
The official claim form does not require supporting documents at the time of filing.
Claimants must certify under penalty of perjury that they paid qualifying unreimbursed ATM surcharges during the settlement period. They may also be asked to provide the number of qualifying withdrawals.
However, the settlement administrator has the right to request bank statements or other documents later to verify a claim. Consumers should therefore provide accurate information and keep any records they still have.
How to File a Visa/Mastercard ATM Settlement Claim
Eligible class members can submit a claim through the official settlement administrator or mail a completed claim form.
The filing deadline is February 10, 2027. A Notice ID can be entered by people who received an official notice, but the claim process also allows potentially eligible consumers to provide identifying and contact information.
The administrator says settlement payments are expected to be offered digitally, with options that may include PayPal or a virtual debit card. Claimants may also have the option to request a paper check when payment notices are issued.
Important Settlement Deadlines
Class members who want to participate should pay attention to several dates.
The deadline to exclude yourself from the settlement is December 11, 2026. The objection deadline is also December 11, 2026.
The claim deadline is February 10, 2027.
The court has scheduled the fairness hearing for February 17, 2027, at which it will consider whether the proposed settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate. Payments will not be distributed until the settlement receives final approval and any appeals are resolved.
This Settlement Covers Non-Bank ATMs
Consumers should not confuse this case with an earlier Visa and Mastercard ATM surcharge settlement involving bank-operated ATMs.
The current $167.5 million Burke settlement focuses on independent, non-bank ATMs. The earlier Mackmin litigation involved ATM fees paid at bank-operated machines and resulted in a separate $197.5 million Visa and Mastercard settlement.
The difference matters because the eligibility periods, claim procedures, and payment status are not the same.
What Happens If You Do Nothing?
A class member who does nothing will not receive money from the $167.5 million settlement.
If the settlement becomes final, people who remain in the class may also give up the right to pursue separate claims against Visa or Mastercard involving the same alleged conduct.
Consumers who want payment must submit a valid claim by the deadline, while anyone who wants to preserve the right to bring a separate lawsuit must follow the exclusion process.
Conclusion
The Visa/Mastercard ATM settlement gives eligible consumers a new opportunity to seek compensation for unreimbursed surcharges paid at independent ATMs. The proposed deal creates a $167.5 million fund covering qualifying transactions from October 24, 2007, through August 14, 2026.
The most important deadline is February 10, 2027, when the claims period closes. The settlement still requires final court approval, with a fairness hearing scheduled for February 17, 2027.
Consumers who may qualify should use the official settlement materials, provide accurate transaction information, and avoid unofficial messages requesting payment or sensitive information in exchange for filing a claim.