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Chase ordered to disclose ATM fee

Washington Governor Chris Gregoire says JP Morgan Chase must figure out a way to make their ATMs warn welfare clients of an 85-cent fee to withdraw cash. The governor made her comments Wednesday after she declined to veto the disclosure requirement.

Washington welfare clients have been racking up more than $450,000 in fees the first four months of this year. Chase has been charging this fee as part of its master contract with the state to provide welfare benefits electronically.

In response to Northwest News Network reporting, Washington lawmakers inserted a requirement into a larger welfare overhaul bill that the bank disclose the fee at the time of the transaction. Chase said it wasn't technically feasible and asked Gregoire for a veto. She said no, adding: 

"This bank, one of the most sophisticated banks in the world, can't find a way to give a consumer notice by current technology? I don’t believe that.”

Gregoire also said the 85-cent ATM fee was "offensive" and should get a "hard look" when the Chase contract comes up for renewal in 2014.

The bank did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Copyright 2011 Northwest News Network

Since January 2004, Austin Jenkins has been the Olympia-based political reporter for the Northwest News Network. In that position, Austin covers Northwest politics and public policy as well as the Washington State legislature. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) Emmy-nominated public affairs program "Inside Olympia." Prior to joining the Northwest News Network, Austin worked as a television reporter in Seattle, Portland and Boise. Austin is a graduate of Garfield High School in Seattle and Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut. Austin’s reporting has been recognized with awards from the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors, Public Radio News Directors Incorporated and the Society of Professional Journalists.