The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is assessing ATM cash availability after reports that some machines are running low or out of cash, according to sources. RBI officials are understood to be asking banks for details of cash inventories at their branches. The information is intended to help determine whether banks are recharging ATMs with sufficient cash and on time.
The review is focused on banks’ internal cash positions, including how cash is stored at branches and how frequently it is supplied to ATMs. This scrutiny comes as questions emerge about whether lenders are meeting the operational requirements needed to keep ATMs stocked, especially when cash demand varies across locations and time periods.
The RBI’s checks aim to establish the scale and cause of any shortages by comparing reported cash availability with ATM replenishment timelines. The approach described by sources emphasizes monitoring and verification rather than immediate enforcement steps, as the central bank gathers information before forming any further view on banks’ compliance and preparedness.
