So-called foreign ATM fees charged by banks may live on even as "reform" of the charging arrangements for the automatic teller machine sector kicks in from early March.National Australia Bank wrote to customers this week to advise that from 3 March the bank will apply a charge of 50 cents for each cash withdrawal or balance inquiry they make from an ATM owned by another bank.From that date ATM owners, whether owned by banks or an independent operator, will charge what is being called a convenience fee.This is likely to be around $2 a transaction and consistent with the current level of "foreign" ATM fees that banks now charge. In select locations, and based on overseas experience, these charges may rise, though in high traffic areas the charges may even fall.The idea behind the reform is to make the pricing of ATM fees more transparent and to foster more competitive arrangements between owners of ATM fleets, including over the interchange fees they negotiate.