How To Deposit Cash at an ATM (Step-by-Step Guide)
Bank hours aren’t always the most convenient, especially if you work a 9-to-5 job. So what do you do if you have physical cash you need to deposit into your savings or checking account and can’t visit the bank when it’s open?
Can you deposit cash at an ATM to make your life a little easier? Read on to find out.
Can You Deposit Cash at an ATM?
Many ATMs give you the option to deposit cash, but whether you can get that cash into your account depends on your bank. For example, Bank of America and Wells Fargo-branded ATMs accept cash deposits, but you have to be a Bank of America or Wells Fargo member to deposit cash at their ATMs. Before making a trip to an ATM, make sure it is associated with your bank.
Online banks like Discover Bank may not accept cash deposits or may charge fees for them. In these situations, you’ll need to investigate and weigh any fees against the convenience of the cash deposit.
Keep in mind that not all ATMs accept cash deposits, so you’ll need to find one that does and works with your bank. For example, small ATMs in convenience stores typically don’t accept cash deposits, nor do some small banks and credit unions. Contact your financial institution to find out whether you can make cash deposits, and if so, where.
Can You Deposit Cash at an ATM That Isn’t Your Bank’s?
In most cases, you cannot deposit cash at an ATM that isn’t associated with your bank. For example, Capital One customers can only deposit cash at Capital One-branded ATMs.
Contact your bank to find out whether you can use ATMs from other banks to deposit cash into your account. If so, ask about the fees you might incur and how long you’ll have to wait to use your money.
How Much Cash Can You Deposit at an ATM?
Deposit limits are typically larger than withdrawal limits. They work differently, too. For example, if you’re a Chase customer, there may be limits on the number of bills you can deposit at a given time, depending on the ATM you use. If that limit is 40 bills and you need to deposit more than 40 bills, you may need to do so in separate transactions.
If you bank with Wells Fargo, there are no daily limits or bill-per-transaction limits, so you can deposit as much money as you need to, regardless of how many bills you have. Contact your bank to find out whether you have a daily ATM deposit limit or a bill-per-transaction limit so you’re not surprised when you get to the ATM.
If You Deposit Cash Into an ATM, When Can You Spend It?
Some banks process ATM cash deposits faster than others. Some banks allow you to use the cash you deposit into their ATMs on the same day, while there may be a delay with others. Whether there’s a delay may depend on when you make your deposit.
For example, if you bank with Wells Fargo and make your ATM cash deposit before 9 p.m., you can use the money the day you deposit it. If you make your deposit after 9 p.m., however, you’ll need to wait until the following day to use the money.
How Do You Deposit Money Into an ATM?
Contact your bank. Contact your bank to find out whether it accepts ATM deposits, where you can make deposits, what fees there are and whether there are any daily or per-transaction limits on cash ATM deposits.
Count your cash. Be sure you know how much money you’re depositing. That way, if there’s an error, you can contact the bank and have your balance adjusted.
Go to the ATM and access your account. Go to your local ATM and access it as you would if you were making a withdrawal.
Click deposit. Click the deposit button to start the transaction.
Insert your deposit. Insert your cash into the ATM. The ATM will typically count the cash and confirm the total with you.
Complete the transaction. Confirm the total to complete the transaction.
Collect your card and receipt.
Final Take
Most large financial institutions make it easy to deposit cash at either their own branded ATMs or ATMs within their network. Call your bank today to find out whether you can deposit cash and what limitations and fees you need to consider when you do so.
FAQ
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about ATM cash deposits.
How much cash can I deposit at Chase ATMs?
Chase doesn't limit the amount of money you can deposit at an ATM on any given day, but there may be a limit on the number of bills you can deposit. If you need to deposit more than the bill limit, you can do so by making multiple ATM deposits.
Can you deposit cash at Wells Fargo ATMs?
Yes, you can deposit cash at Wells Fargo ATMs if you have a Wells Fargo account. Wells Fargo doesn't impose any daily or per-transaction ATM deposit limits. However, you can't deposit money into your Wells Fargo account with any other ATM.
Can I deposit money if the bank is closed?
Yes. In most cases, you can deposit money if your bank is closed. That is, if your bank accepts one of these two types of deposits:
ATM deposits. Most ATMs are operational 24 hours per day. So, if your bank accepts ATM deposits, you can make an ATM deposit regardless of whether the bank is closed.
Mobile deposits. Some banks allow you to deposit checks and money orders through their mobile apps, although this isn't an option if you're depositing cash.
Can you deposit cash at an ATM with a debit card?
It depends. Some ATMs don't accept deposits, while others require you to be a bank member to make a deposit.
Is a cash deposit at an ATM instantaneous?
Many banks will accept your cash deposit and post it to your account immediately. However, some delay processing if you deposit outside of normal business hours, such as late evenings or weekends. Check your bank's cash deposit rules to determine whether your cash will post instantaneously.
Can I deposit $2,000 cash in an ATM?
It depends on whether the ATM accepts cash deposits and is within your network. Also, some ATMs can take only a specific number of bills, so you may need to make multiple deposits if you have $2,000 in cash.
Virginia Anderson and Sarah Sharkey contributed to the reporting for this article.
Information is accurate as of Aug. 25, 2023.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How To Deposit Cash at an ATM (Step-by-Step Guide)
