ATMs

The government has sought urgent feedback from banks on reported ATM cash replenishment issues amid concerns over cash availability and service disruptions

ATM operators and manufacturers are urging banks to activate cash-recycler interoperability, saying it can improve efficiency and help reduce mounting cash logistics and operating costs

ATM loading may be hit, affecting DBT beneficiaries

Rising wage and logistics costs are exposing long-standing stress points in India's ATM ecosystem, prompting calls for a rethink of interchange fees

Reserve Bank of India is considering a pilot project for polymer banknotes, citing longer shelf life, lower replacement costs and rising demand for cash despite the growth of digital payments

NPCI may review ATM interchange fees and link charges to WPI as rising operating costs put pressure on India's ATM ecosystem

The five-year mandate covers 6,000 ATMs and includes currency logistics, ATM modernisation and deployment of CMS's AI-powered HAWKAI platform

On average, each ATM dispensed ₹1.21 crore per month in 2025, lower than ₹1.30 crore in the previous year, indicating a moderation in overall cash usage.

RBI's Trend and Progress report said scheduled commercial banks expanded branches mainly in tier-1 centres in FY25, while ATM numbers declined modestly due to fewer off-site machines

Micro-ATM operators have sought a revision in transaction fees, urging the government to align their payouts with those of legacy ATMs amid rising volumes and decade-old stagnant pricing

RBI directed banks in April 2025 to ensure 75 per cent of ATMs dispense ₹100 or ₹200 notes from at least one cassette by the September 30 deadline to improve access to small denominations

Cash logistics firms and banks cite note supply and operational costs as key concerns in meeting RBI's target for ATMs dispensing Rs 100 or Rs 200 notes by September 2025

Banks such as Punjab & Sind Bank, Canara Bank, Union Bank of India, and Punjab National Bank have asked their circle heads to stay in their zonal offices

State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and several other lenders on Friday said their ATMs are fully functional, well-stocked, and that digital services are operating smoothly. The announcements came against the backdrop of reports on social media that ATMs are likely to be shut in the coming days amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan. They also said that all their digital services are operating smoothly. "All our ATMs, CDMs/ADWMs and digital services are fully operational and available for public use," India's largest bank, State Bank of India, said in a post on social media post 'X'. India's largest lender also advised its customers not to rely on unverified information. Similar messages have been posted by Bank of Baroda, Punjab and Sindh Bank, Canara Bank and Bank of India. "All our digital services too are operating smoothly, ensuring a seamless banking experience from the comfort of your home," Punjab National Bank said in a post on social media platform ..

Regulator seeks to help people in having cash for small purchases though digital financial transactions are growing

The Reserve Bank of India on Monday asked banks to ensure that ATMs dispense Rs 100 or Rs 200 denomination notes to enhance the availability of these currency notes to the public. Banks and White Label ATM Operators (WLAOs) have to implement the direction in a phased manner. "As part of an endeavour towards enhancing public access to frequently used denominations of banknotes, it has been decided that all banks and White Label ATM Operators (WLAOs) shall ensure that their ATMs dispense Rs 100 and Rs 200 denomination banknotes on a regular basis...," the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said in a circular. According to the circular, by September 30, 2025, 75 per cent of all ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) shall dispense either Rs 100 or Rs 200 denomination banknotes from at least one cassette. By March 31, 2026, 90 per cent of all ATMs shall dispense either Rs 100 or Rs 200 denomination banknotes from at least one cassette.

Hike in interchange fees may lead to more deployments in bank as well as white label ATMs

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to undergo a major digital overhaul to enhance services for over 9 crore beneficiaries, with Version 3.0 set to launch by May or June, Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Friday. In coming days, EPFO beneficiaries will be able to withdraw funds from ATMs due to faster processing of claims on the newer Version 3.0, Mandaviya said in an interview with PTI. "EPFO will soon implement Version 3.0 with the help of a robust IT platform to provide seamless and simplified services, including auto-claim settlements, digital corrections, and ATM-based fund withdrawals. The overhaul is aimed at making EPFO accessible and efficient," he said. According to Mandaviya, the new version will eliminate the need for complex and lengthy form-filling processes or physical visits for claims and corrections. Beneficiaries will be able to update their EPFO accounts and mandates using OTP verification and conveniently monitor

New charges apply after free monthly transaction limits, says lender

Bank customers are eligible for five free transactions (inclusive of financial and non-financial transactions) every month from their bank ATMs