ATM Finder

If you prefer to make payments using cash, you can use your ATM card to withdraw money from your bank account. You can then use this money to make bill payments or purchases. You do not have to visit your bank to carry out these transactions.

Here are the steps you need to follow to use ATM:

• Insert your ATM-cum-debit card in the slot in the ATM. Some machines only need you to swipe your card to read the magnetic stripe. In this case, just swipe the card. Usually, there is a small red light that turns green when the machine is able to successfully read your magnetic stripe.
• ATM will ask if you have a Savings Account or Current Account. Choose accordingly.
• The machine will then ask for your ATM PIN. ATMs is India accept a 4-digit PIN that is issued with the card. A customer is supposed to memorise it for use.
• Next, the ATM will show a menu with all the transaction options you have to carry out. Choose the option out of cash withdrawal, balance inquiry, PIN change, etc. based on your needs.
• The machine might also ask if you need a printed receipt of the transaction. Choose “Yes” if you want to get the receipt. To discourage the wastage of paper, it is advisable to choose “No.”
• ATM will then complete the transaction and return to the “Welcome screen.” If the ATM operates by taking the card in, it will eject your card before completing the transaction.

ATMs have been used for decades in many countries around the world. They have also been popular in India for quite a long time. Many youngsters are interested in net banking and mobile banking but they still prefer to use ATMs from time to time.

A few of the main reasons why ATM has never vanished despite the rise in the use of digital currency and the technological advances in the banking sector have been listed here:

• Customers who prefer to deal with cash can do so easily without the need to visit their bank or bank branch. They can be at any part of the country and use the bank’s ATM to withdraw cash and use it. While many merchants accept card payments now, there are plenty of transactions that are still carried out solely in cash.
• Most people do not have enough time to stand in long queues to get their account passbook updated for balance or previous transactions. These customers can visit any of the nearest ATM of the bank to get a mini statement or do a balance enquiry. It is quite convenient for the customers. This has also reduced the load on the already overworked staff of the banks.
• When people use their debit or credit cards to make payments, they never really grasp the amount of money they have spent. Slowly, this can lead to bad spending habits since the person does not feel a difference between spending Rs. 1,000 or Rs. 50,000. By using the ATM cash withdrawal facility, the person learns to handle cash wisely. He/she feels the pocket getting lighter when they make bigger purchases. It can be a great option to people who want to stick to their budgets and minimise unnecessary purchases.
• Banks have a definite opening and closing times but people need money at all hours of the day. Most bank ATMs are operational on a 24×7 basis even if there is a bank holiday. People can get access to their own money through the bank ATM even if the bank is closed. This can be convenient in the case of emergencies.
• A lot of times people like to travel with enough cash in their wallets. However, for various reasons they might need more cash whether to book tickets, purchase souvenirs, or pay during a medical emergency. They can easily get access to the money in their bank account by visiting the ATM if they have their ATM-cum-debit card or credit card with them.

If you like to use your ATM regularly, you need to make sure that it is not prone to unauthorised use or theft. Here are a few things you can do to keep your money safe if you use ATMs regularly:

• One of the first things you need to do is to change your ATM PIN when you receive your ATM card and PIN. These days, when you open a new account, you receive your ATM-cum-debit card and ATM PIN. You need to visit the nearest ATM and change the ATM PIN. Never share your ATM PIN with anyone.
• Make sure to keep a PIN that is easy to memorise. However, do not keep your flat/house number, year of birth, date of birth, etc. as your ATM PIN. One of the main reasons for this is because many people may know these details about you. This can lead to a potential ATM misuse.
• You need to memorise your ATM PIN to use it with your ATM-cum-debit card. Do not write it on the ATM card or anywhere in your wallet. Even in the case of theft, no one can use your ATM card without your PIN. If you have written the password on the ATM card cover or on a paper in your wallet, it gives a chance for the thieves to withdraw money from your account.
• In case your ATM card has been lost or stolen, make sure to report it to the bank. Most banks allow you to apply for a duplicate ATM card if you present the police FIR. The bank will block your previous card to stop unauthorised use and issue you a new one. This will keep the money in your account safe.
• It is essential to change your ATM PIN regularly whether you use your ATM card frequently or not. This will save your ATM against unauthorised use even if your information has fallen into someone else’s hands.

In 2014, RBI rolled out a policy pertaining to the number of free ATM transactions per month. Post this policy, different banks set up the number of free ATM transactions, specifically cash withdrawals per month. Post the free transactions, the customer had to pay a nominal fee per transaction to the bank. The number of the free ATM transactions is different for the customers of the bank as compared to those from other banks.

The list of ATM transaction charges has been given here:

Since the free ATM transactions are few, it is essential to use your trips to the ATM wisely. Here are a few tips to avoid ATM transaction charges:

• Do not visit an ATM for non-financial transactions. Use net banking or mobile banking to check balance, view account statement or other services. Only go to the ATM to withdraw cash.
• Take out cash each time as close to the permissible limit as possible if you have sufficient funds to ensure that you do not have to visit an ATM for small amounts. It will be helpful to keep a tab on the number of times you have visited the bank’s ATM or other bank’s ATM to know how much you had to pay extra for your transactions. For the future, use this data as a reference.
• It is easy to pay bills and transfer funds online. Do not use cash for these monetary transactions since you can only withdraw a limited amount from the ATM. Use net banking and mobile banking as much as possible.
• Whether you are purchasing grocery or clothes, try to visit merchants and retailers that accept card payments. This will save you a lot of money in the long run. Digitalisation is the way to go so it is better to stop being dependent on cash for all kinds of transactions.

When you are in the need of cash or want to use an ATM for other services, instead of roaming around and searching for an ATM, here are a few ways you can easily find an ATM:

• ATM Finder on the Bank’s Website: You can visit the website of your bank on the computer or your mobile phone if you want to use their ATM finder. Sometimes, it is listed under the term “ATM Locator” or “ATM Finder.” You can easily find it at the top or bottom menu of the bank’s website. Many mobile apps or websites of the banks also have these ATM Finder pages where you can search from an ATM near your location.
• Search Engine: You can also use a search engine to find your bank’s ATM by using the search phrase “Bank Name + ATM + City/area.” If you need to use an ATM urgently, you can use the ATM of another bank by using the same method instead of the bank’s ATM Finder
• “ATM Near Me” Service: You can use the search engine for their “ATM near me” service. You will be able to find the address of the ATMs near you. This is one of the easiest ways to find an ATM if you are stuck in an unfamiliar area.
• Websites: There are a few websites that detect your location and suggest a working ATM near you. Some of these websites also offer real-time data including the status such as CASH, NO CASH, LONG WAIT, etc. These websites became popular post the demonetisation drive and have been used by many people ever since.
• Mobile Apps: If you want to find detailed information about ATMs, you can check specific apps that give crowd-sourced information in real-time about queue-lengths, etc. Many people depended on these mobile apps post demonetisation to decide which ATM to go to for cash withdrawal