You visit an ATM, withdraw ₹10,000, and step out. Shortly after, another person arrives, withdraws money, and leaves. But have you ever wondered how much cash can actually be stored in the ATM you use?

If this question has ever crossed your mind, let’s try to find the answer in the second part of our series, "Ever Wondered?"

While banks do not disclose the exact amount of cash in an ATM—primarily for security reasons—the crucial point is that there is no fixed amount for every ATM. The cash volume depends on the ATM's capacity and the denominations of the banknotes loaded into it.

Where is the cash stored inside an ATM?

A bank ATM can typically hold up to ₹50 lakh in cash. However, this depends on the ATM's capacity, its location, and the value of the banknotes loaded into it.

Inside the ATM, cash is stored in metal trays known as "cassettes." An ATM contains four such cassettes, which hold the bundles of banknotes.

A single cassette can hold up to 2,500 banknotes; consequently, four cassettes can accommodate a total of 10,000 banknotes.

So, how much cash is actually in an ATM?

The total amount depends on the denominations of the notes loaded. For instance, if all four cassettes are filled with ₹500 notes, the total value would reach ₹50 lakh.

However, ATMs do not stock only ₹500 notes; they typically contain a mix of ₹100, ₹200, and ₹500 notes. Now, suppose an ATM has two cassettes loaded with ₹500 notes, one with ₹100 notes, and one with ₹200 notes; the total cash value would amount to ₹32,50,000.

However, most ATMs today also offer cash deposit facilities.

How does cash reach the ATM?

According to Reserve Bank (RBI) guidelines, a cash van cannot transport more than ₹5 crore in a single trip. It is mandatory for these cash vans to be equipped with GPS.

Additionally, cash cannot be loaded into ATMs after 9 PM in cities and after 6 PM in villages.

As per RBI norms, a cash van must be staffed by a driver, two armed security guards, and two ATM officers or custodians.

When is cash replenished?

Cash levels are constantly monitored. When an ATM is running low on cash, the bank is notified, and the machine is subsequently restocked.

According to an RBI report, ATMs across the country are replenished with cash every three days on average.

However, reports from major banks indicate that cash is loaded daily in metropolitan cities and every two and a half days in villages. Based on this, ATMs are replenished every two days on average.

How many ATMs are there in the country?

According to RBI data, there were 2,09,992 ATMs across the country as of August 2026. Of these, 1.36 lakh ATMs are located within bank branches.

RBI data reveals that ₹2.24 lakh crore was withdrawn from ATMs nationwide in August, whereas ₹2.19 lakh crore was withdrawn in July.

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