Banks extend fee waivers for storm-hit customers

It's an effort to ease pressure on customers to make bill payments when nearly 1.8 million homes and businesses remain without power across a swath of states.

The banks themselves still face power outages, forcing the shutdown of dozens of branches and ATMs.

JPMorgan Chase Inc. said automatic refunds of certain fees for those living in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and the District of Columbia were extended until the end of business Nov. 7.

The extension applies to overdraft protection transfer, extended overdraft, returned item and insufficient funds fees, and late fees on credit cards, business and consumer loans, including mortgages, home-equity, auto and student loans.

Chase mortgage customers in those states may be able to get a 90-day moratorium on making mortgage payments. Customers should call 888-356-0023 and choose option 1 for mortgage to learn more.

Chase said about 87 percent of its total branch and ATM network in the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut metro area had power restored.

Citigroup Inc. likewise extended until Nov. 7 fee waivers for overdraft protection, non-sufficient funds, late payments on credit products, early CD withdrawal and wiring funds to affected Citi customers. Citi mortgage customers should call 800-283-7918 to inquire about payment options.

The New York-based bank said more than 80 percent of its branches and ATMs were back in service.

Nov. 7 is also the date for extensions at Wells Fargo & Co. on fees it normally charges its customers for using another bank's ATMs. Wells Fargo will also allow customers with CDs to withdraw funds from these accounts without incurring an early withdrawal penalty. These fee waiver extensions are available in the storm-affected states of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Additionally, Wells Fargo is continuing to waive late fees on credit cards, certain small business and consumer loans, including home-equity, auto and student loans until Nov 7. This waiver also applies to New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and West Virginia.

Wells Fargo said 86 percent of its ATMs in the storm-affected states were back in service and 80 percent of bank branches in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania had reopened.