Credit unions under pressure to increase their noninterest income will continue to seek and offer surcharge-free ATM access but may tweak their programs to try to drive more income from them, according to industry executives.

Offering free ATM access to their members and the members of other networked credit unions has long been an institution for American credit unions. Participating in a large surcharge free network can allow small credit unions to compete with large banks with much more widespread ATM access. Further, surcharge-free ATM access also furthers credit unions' consumer-friendly reputation.

But in most cases, credit unions made the decision in favor of surcharge-free ATM during better economic times when interest income margins were considerably stronger than they are now. Now, with noninterest income simultaneously more important and under more pressure than before, will credit unions maintain their commitment to surcharge-free ATM access?