Wells Fargo bank will begin charging some Georgia customers $3 a month to use their debit cards.

Georgia is one of four states where a pilot program will tack on the fee every month when a debit card is used. The pilot begins in October.

“We’re joining other banks doing this,” said spokesman Jay Lawrence.

“The rules have changed for us and other banks,” he said. “Because of the [new federal swipe-fee] caps [on debit cards], our costs aren’t covered.”

Lawrence said customers can avoid the fee by not using their debit card. Some Wells Fargo accounts also are exempt. And using an ATM will not trigger the fee.

Wells Fargo joins SunTrust, which announced a similar fee for new accounts earlier this year, as well as Chase and several other banks.

More than a million households in Georgia are Wells Fargo customers.

Tags: banking, wells fargo, debit cards, debit card fees, bank fees