CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Expect to dip significantly deeper into your pockets if you are not a depositor at Bank of American but decide to use one of the bank's ATMs. The bank has announced that the fee for non-depositors using its ATM machines in most major U.S. markets has gone from $2 to $3.

The fee change began on July 31 and is being phased in across the nation over the coming month. The fee change will only apply to Bank of America ATMs in branches rather than those placed in shopping malls, airports, convenience stores and other public locations, the bank said.

According to bankrate.com, an Internet site which tracks bank fee data, Bank of America last raised ATM fees two years ago from $1.50 to $2.00. In media reports bank spokesmen have justified the change as being in light of the check imaging machines and other improvements the bank has made to its ATMs.