If you have a UPI app on your phone, you may not need your debit card to withdraw cash. Under an RBI framework issued on 19 May 2022 (circular RBI/2022-23/54), banks and ATM networks can offer Interoperable Card-less Cash Withdrawal (ICCW), where the withdrawal is authorised through UPI instead of a card and PIN.
How it works, step by step
- At a supporting ATM, choose “UPI Cash Withdrawal” (or “QR Cash”) on the welcome screen.
- Select or enter the amount. The screen then shows a one-time QR code.
- Open any UPI app (BHIM, a bank app, or a payment app) and scan the QR code.
- Choose the account to debit and enter your UPI PIN on your phone, not on the ATM keypad.
- The ATM dispenses the cash. Your app and bank SMS confirm the debit.
“Interoperable” means the ATM does not have to belong to your bank. Any bank’s customer with UPI can use any ATM that has enabled the feature.
Limits and charges
- Limits: the RBI framework says ICCW limits follow the same withdrawal limits as regular card-based ATM transactions. Your UPI app may also apply its own daily cap.
- Charges: no extra fee may be charged for using ICCW itself. The withdrawal still counts towards your monthly free ATM transactions like any other.
Why it is safer in some ways
Because no card goes into the machine, a skimming device on the card slot captures nothing, and because the PIN is entered on your phone, a hidden camera over the keypad sees nothing useful. The QR code changes every time, so a photo of it is useless later.
The usual phone precautions still apply: never scan a QR code someone hands you or sends you, and remember that entering a UPI PIN always sends money from your account. At an ATM it should only be done on the QR the machine itself shows.
Which ATMs support it
The facility is optional for banks, ATM networks and white-label operators, so not every machine has it. Newer machines and recent software upgrades are more likely to show the UPI option. If the option is missing from the welcome screen, that ATM does not support it.
If the cash does not come out
Treat it exactly like a failed card withdrawal: the debit was made by your bank, so your bank reverses it. Note the time, the ATM ID and the UPI transaction ID from your app. The timeline for the refund is explained in ATM debited but no cash.
Find ATMs in your city: Thiruvananthapuram · Thrissur · Bhubaneswar
Common questions
Do I need an account with the bank that owns the ATM?
No. Any bank customer with a UPI app linked to their account can use any ATM that has switched on the facility.
Can I use ICCW abroad?
No. It works on Indian ATMs connected to the UPI network, for Indian bank accounts.
What if my phone has no internet signal inside the ATM cabin?
The UPI app needs a data connection to approve the payment. Step outside, approve it, and come back quickly before the QR code expires.
Last checked: October 2026, against RBI circular RBI/2022-23/54 on Interoperable Card-less Cash Withdrawal at ATMs.
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