Many times, when bank branches are closed on Sundays, festivals or the second and fourth Saturday of the month, there is a sudden need for cash for hospital, local travel or everyday shopping. Such a situation becomes even more stressful when you neither have a check book nor are you carrying your physical ATM (debit) card. The Indian banking system and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) have prepared several state-of-the-art options to deal with such emergencies. If the bank is closed and you need liquid cash immediately, you can get cash in minutes without visiting the bank branch with these 4 safe and easy ways. 1. UPI-ATM (ICCW): Withdraw cash without debit card by just scanning the QR code. If you have lost your ATM card or left it at home, you can still withdraw money from any modern ATM. Under the 'Interoperable Cardless Cash Withdrawal' (ICCW) technology of Reserve Bank of India and NPCI, UPI cash withdrawal facility is now available at ATMs of almost all major banks (SBI, HDFC, PNB, Bank of Baroda). Procedure: Select 'UPI Cash Withdrawal' option on the ATM screen. Enter the amount to be withdrawn (maximum ₹10,000 per transaction). A single-use dynamic QR code will appear on the screen. Open Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm or BHIM app on your phone, scan the QR code and enter your UPI PIN. As soon as the PIN is authorized, the ATM machine will immediately dispense cash. Advantage: There is no risk of card cloning or skimming and the need to carry the card is completely eliminated. 2. Bank Mitra and AePS: Cash withdrawal with just Aadhaar number and thumb impression Apart from town and rural areas, Common Service Center (CSC), Customer Service Center (CSP) and local Bank Mitra outlets are active in cities also. These centers remain open despite banks being closed and work on Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AePS). Process: Visit your nearest kiosk or CSC centre. There tell the operator your Aadhaar number and the name of the bank where you have your account. After this put your fingerprint on the biometric scanner (Micro-ATM). The system will do biometric authentication from your Aadhaar linked account and the operator will immediately hand over the cash amount to you over the counter. Advantage: This requires neither a smartphone nor any password or OTP. Only your Aadhaar number and biometrics are enough. 3. India Post Payments Bank (IPPB): Postman will come to your home and give cash (doorstep service) If you are ill, a senior citizen or are not in a position to step out of the house on bank holidays, then the doorstep banking service of the postal department proves to be most helpful. India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) provides the facility of delivering cash at home through postman (Gramin Dak Sevak). Process: Submit 'Doorstep Banking' request through 'Post Info' app or IPPB portal, or contact the postman in your area. The postman will reach your home with a micro-ATM machine. There you can withdraw cash from any of your bank accounts by putting your biometric fingerprint through AePS. Benefit: For the elderly, disabled and emergency patients, secure cash is available directly in hand without leaving home. 4. 'Cash at PoS': Swipe money from a nearby petrol pump or supermarket As per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) rules, cash withdrawal is also allowed from 'Point of Sale' (PoS) swipe machines installed at select merchant outlets, petrol pumps and large supermarkets. Procedure: If you have a debit card but there is no vacant or working ATM machine nearby, visit the nearest authorized merchant or petrol pump. Request a 'Cash at PoS' transaction from the shopkeeper there. They will enter the required amount into the POS machine, you will swipe/insert your debit card and enter the PIN. The shopkeeper will give you cash as soon as the approval slip comes out of the machine. Withdrawal limit: Cash withdrawal up to ₹1,000 per card per day in Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities and ₹2,000 per day in Tier-3 to Tier-6 (small towns/villages) can be done as per RBI norms. Precautions to be taken during emergency cash withdrawal Authentication Security: Do not share the phone or PIN with any unknown person while scanning the QR code or placing the fingerprint at the micro-ATM. Merchant Receipt: While taking cash from POS or Bank Mitra, always check the system-generated printed receipt or the bank SMS received on your mobile immediately. Charges and Limit: Some banks may charge a nominal convenience fee on cardless or AePS withdrawals after the monthly limit, hence after withdrawal, please confirm the deducted balance through SMS.
