Sometimes you need to put cash into your bank account. Maybe someone gave you cash as a gift, or paid you in cash for something. Going to a bank branch for this is not always convenient. Fortunately, some ATMs (cash machines) can not only give out money but also accept it. This is simpler than it sounds. Let's go through the whole process together, step by step.
What is a cash-deposit ATM
An ATM is a machine for handling cash. It is usually a rectangular box with a screen, found on the street or inside a bank branch. Most ATMs only give out money. But not every ATM can also accept money back. This feature is often called "cash deposit" or "cash-in."
Not all ATMs have this feature. Before you go, make sure the ATM you plan to use actually offers it. The easiest way to check is in your bank's mobile app — a program on your smartphone that you install from an app store, such as Google Play or the App Store. Do not worry if you cannot find a suitable ATM close by right away. This is not a mistake on your part — simply not every ATM is the same, and you may need to walk or travel a bit further.
Step by step: how to deposit cash into your account
- Open your bank's mobile app on your smartphone.
- Find the section of the app that shows ATMs on a map — usually marked with a small picture (icon) of an ATM.
- Turn on the "Cash deposit" filter in that section, if there is one — this leaves only the suitable ATMs shown on the map.
- Choose the nearest suitable ATM and remember or write down its address.
- Go to the chosen ATM together with the cash you want to deposit.
- Insert your bank card into the card slot — usually located at the bottom of the screen and marked with a picture of a card.
- Enter your PIN on the ATM's keypad. A PIN is a secret four-digit number for your card that only you should know.
- Find the button on the screen labeled "Deposit cash" or "Top up account" and tap it.
- Choose which account you want to deposit the money into, if the ATM asks you to.
- Wait for a special tray or slot for banknotes to open on the ATM.
- Place the banknotes (paper money) into the tray flat, without paper clips and without heavily bent corners.
- Carefully check the amount the ATM has counted, shown on the screen.
- Tap the "Confirm" button if the amount is correct.
- Take the receipt — a paper confirmation of the transaction — that the ATM prints out.
- Take your card back from the ATM.
If you do not have your card with you, some banking apps let you use a cardless option: you show the ATM a QR code (a small square black-and-white image) on your phone's screen, and the ATM reads it with its camera instead of a card.
Do not worry if a screen looks different from what is described here. Every bank designs its screens a little differently. Just read the words on the screen carefully and look for similar terms — "deposit," "top up," "cash-in." Tapping the wrong button at this stage is not a disaster: the ATM always lets you cancel the operation and start over.
What to do if something goes wrong
- The ATM will not accept a banknote. Smooth the note out if it is crumpled and try again. If it still does not work after a few tries, use a different ATM — never try to pull the note back out of the slot by force.
- The amount on the receipt does not match what you deposited. Do not walk away right away. Take a photo of the receipt and call your bank using the number printed on the back of your card. This is the safest way to make sure you are really speaking to your bank.
- The ATM freezes after you have put in the money and does not print a receipt. Do not leave the ATM immediately, and do not try to repeat the transaction. Call your bank's official phone number and describe what happened.
- Someone asks for your PIN or an SMS code over the phone. Never tell your PIN or a one-time SMS code to anyone — even if the caller claims to be a bank employee. A real bank never asks for these over the phone. Scammers sometimes call right after this kind of transaction, claiming your "deposit needs to be confirmed" with a code from an SMS. If you get such a call, hang up and call your bank back yourself, using the official number on the back of your card.
- A stranger near the ATM offers to "help" you. Politely decline. Cover the keypad with your hand while entering your PIN, and do not let anyone touch your card or phone.
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