- To increase the awareness of people, financial inclusion, and security of transactions, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) published important clarifications on ATMs and White Label ATMs (WLAs).
- What are ATMs and WLAs?
- ATM (Automated Teller Machine): Cash withdrawal and banking made available without having to go to the branch.
- White Label ATM (WLA): ATM owned and operated by non-bank organisations and approved by RBI in accordance with the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
- WLAs offer similar services as bank ATMs, which will facilitate accessibility in semi-urban and rural locations.
- Services Available
- Withdrawing of cash, checking the balance, mini statement, changing PIN, paying bills.
- WLAs do not support the mobile recharge.
- Cards accepted: ATM, Debit, Credit, Prepaid Cards (by issuer authorizations).
- RBI also allowed card-less withdrawals.
- PIN (Personal Identification Number) should remain secret and should be changed on a regular basis.
- Transaction Types
- On-Us Transaction: This involves own-bank ATM.
- Off-Us Transactions: ATM or WLA of other bank.
- Any Indian bank can issue cards whose use can be at any ATM/WLA in India.
- Free Transaction Limits (Savings Accounts)
- Location Free Transactions Off-Us.
- Metro Cities 3 transactions
- non Metro Areas 5 transactions.
- Breakthrough: 5 free On-Us transactions in own bank ATM.
- There can be more free transactions provided by banks.
- There are different rules in BSBDA accounts.
- Unsuccessful or non-cash payments are excluded in the free limit.
- In addition to free limit, charge up to 23 + taxes per transaction.
- Unsuccessful Transactions & Compensation.
- In the event of amount debited without cash:
- Refund on or before T +5 days (T = date of charge).
- Late after 5 days 100 per day compensation, automatically credited.
- Not resolved in 30 days (then) → Complaints through RBI Integrated Ombudsman through https://cms.rbi.org.in.
- Security Guidelines
- Blow out expired/ blocked cards with magnetic strip/chip.
- Don’t share PIN, be on the lookout of suspicious devices, and report any unauthorised usage.
- On loss/theft of card on cards - Notify bank and get the card blocked.
- Security Upgrade
- EMV Chip Cards and PIN Cards
Month: Current Affairs - October 18, 2025
Category: BANKING, FINANCE and BUSINESS