For most ordinary consumers, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) means just withdrawing cash for pocket money or checking account balance. But over the last few years, the Indian banking system and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) have completely transformed ATM machines into high-tech ‘self-service kiosks’. In today’s time, there is no need to stand in long queues at the bank branch, fill forms or wait for the token. There are now about one and a half dozen such facilities available on ATM machines, with the help of which you can complete your major financial tasks 24×7 anytime without the help of bank employees.
The most revolutionary feature that has recently gone live in the banking sector is UPI based Interoperable Cash Deposit (ICCD).
If you still visit the bank branch for these facilities, then know which tasks can be easily done at the nearest ATM kiosk:
1. Application for new check book (Cheque Book Request): Whenever your check book is about to expire, swipe the card at the ATM, go to the ‘Services’ menu and select ‘Request New Chequebook’. The check book will be delivered to your registered address by post within 3 to 5 working days.
2. PIN Generation and Green PIN Reset: There is no need to visit the branch or call the customer care of the bank after getting a new debit card. A new PIN can be set or the old PIN can be reset instantly by choosing the ‘Generate Green PIN’ or ‘OTP Based PIN’ option on the ATM machine.
3. Opening a Fixed Deposit (FD): Major government and private banks of the country (like SBI, ICICI, HDFC) provide the facility of direct FD booking at their ATMs. You can directly transfer funds from savings account to FD by viewing the tenure and interest rate on the screen.
4. Mobile Banking and Internet Banking Registration: If you have not yet activated net banking or mobile app, you can activate your user ID and create a password by going to the ‘Registration’ section of the ATM.
5. Payment of Credit Card Bill: If you have a credit card of the same bank, you can pay the credit card dues instantly from your savings account through an ATM machine.
6. Mobile Number and Email Update: If your old number is recorded in the bank records, many banks allow updating the mobile number through biometric or old PIN at ATM.
7. Card-to-Card Fund Transfer: If you need to send money to a relative or friend urgently and you don’t have their bank account number or IFSC code, you can transfer up to ₹40,000 from one ATM card to another using just their 16-digit debit card number.
8. Pre-Approved Offer and Apply for Personal Loan: Many banks show pre-approved personal loan offers on the ATM screen to their select customers with good credit scores. The loan amount can be credited to the account instantly by getting approved in a few easy steps on the screen.
9. Utility Bill Payment (Electricity, Water, Gas): Most ATMs have a ‘Bill Pay’ option, through which you can directly pay your state electricity board, municipal tax and landline telephone bills.
10. Payment of Life Insurance (LIC) Premium: Premium of LIC and many private insurance companies can be paid through ATM. For this, only the policy number has to be entered and the receipt comes out of the machine immediately.
11. Advance payment of income tax: The facility to pay advance income tax, self assessment tax or TDS is available at the ATMs of many big banks. A challan number is generated and received in the form of a slip.
12. Donations to Temple, Trust and Relief Fund: There is an option for direct donation at ATM for major institutions like Tirupati Balaji, Vaishno Devi, Shirdi Sai Baba Trust and PM National Relief Fund. Donation receipt is valid for tax exemption.
13. Mini Statement and Account Summary: Instead of standing in the queue for passbook printing, you can instantly withdraw a ‘mini statement’ from the ATM, in which details of the last 10 transactions along with date and balance are printed.
14. Cardless Cash Withdrawal (UPI ATM): Withdrawal of cash without card by just scanning the QR code of BHIM, Google Pay, PhonePe or Paytm on the ATM screen has now become a common practice at most ATMs across the country.
With so many facilities available at ATMs, it is also very important to take care of digital security: