NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - On Friday the Department of the Treasury asked banks to waive ATM fees when Katrina evacuees used their FEMA Assistance Cards to obtain cash.

President Bush announced the benefit cards Thursday in an effort to provide immediate relief to the hurricane's victims. The MasterCard-branded debit card provides $2,000 in cash assistance per household for food, clothing and other essentials. (Full Story)

Currently, cardholders can use the card without a surcharge at any ATM in the Allpoint network, as well as ATMs owned by JP Morgan Chase, which issued the cards.

On September 1, a consortium of six federal agencies asked banks to "consider all reasonable and prudent steps to help meet the critical financial needs of...communities affected by Hurricane Katrina," according to the Treasury.

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