How to get more money out of ATM

Even people who pride themselves on being cashless might need to withdraw money once in a while. That’s why it’s important to know your bank’s daily ATM withdrawal limits before an emergency hits and you’re scrambling for money.

How daily ATM limits are set

Generally, a bank will set the same default daily ATM limits for all of its customers, but the amount can vary from bank to bank. These limits are typically on a per-day basis.

At Bank of Luxemburg, a Wisconsin-based bank, the default limit for customers to make cash withdrawals at ATMs is $300. There are opportunities to request an increase, however, if needed. Customers who might seek such increases include truck drivers, who are on the road often, as well as families going on vacation, says DeAnna Tittel, senior vice president of retail at Bank of Luxemburg.

“We give that power right down to each branch manager,” Tittel says. “Even their relationship bankers — they do know their customers in our small communities.”

Talk with your bank to see if it will accommodate your cash withdrawal needs.

Some individual ATMs might have their own limits on cash withdrawals. For instance, a $1,000 daily ATM withdrawal cap on your debit card could be limited on an ATM that only allows up to $300 worth of withdrawals, says Rose Oswald Poels, president and CEO for the Wisconsin Bankers Association.

Though not time efficient, you may be able to go to more than one ATM for a cash withdrawal in this situation.

Examples of ATM withdrawal limits at well-known banks

  • Ally Bank: You can withdraw up to $1,000 each day using your Ally Debit Mastercard. New customers may have limits as low as $500 during the first 90 days.
  • American Express National Bank: American Express debuted its digital checking account in February 2022, and customers can withdraw up to $1,000 a day at an ATM.
  • Bank of America: The maximum daily withdrawal amount using an ATM is $1,000. The limit is $800 for ATM withdrawals set up in advance using the bank’s mobile app.
  • Capital One: ATM withdrawals made using a 360 Checking Card have a daily limit of $1,000.
  • Chase Bank: There’s a $3,000 Chase in-branch ATM limit each day and a $1,000 ATM limit at other Chase ATMs. Chase customers have a $500 daily ATM withdrawal limit at non-Chase ATMs — except for accounts opened in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York, which have a $1,000 limit.
  • Citi: Customers with Citigold Account and Citi Priority Account packages can withdraw up to $2,000 at ATMs each day, while those with other account packages can take out up to $1,500.
  • Citizens Bank: Customers with the Platinum Checking or the Platinum Plus checking can take out up to $1,000 each day. Various other accounts carry daily limits of $500.
  • Discover Bank: A daily withdrawal limit $510 is imposed.
  • Regions Bank: The maximum amount for ATM withdrawals with a personal check card is $808 each day.
  • TD Bank: The standard daily limit is $1,250 when using a Visa debit card or ATM card for cash withdrawals.

The daily limit for ATM withdrawals can vary, based on the account, for banks like BMO Harris, KeyBank, Morgan Stanley Private Bank, PNC Bank, U.S. Bank and Wells Fargo.

Why are there ATM limits?

The main reason banks have ATM limits is to protect your money and the bank in case someone has both your ATM card and the PIN.

Oswald Poels says withdrawal limits are in place because ATMs contain a limited amount of cash and to help keep fraud at bay.

“Should your card and PIN fall into the wrong hands, we certainly don’t want someone to be able to take out a lot of money from your account,” Oswald Poels says.

How to avoid daily ATM limits

Try splitting up large cash withdrawals over a few days, if you have the time. If your ATM limit is $300 each day and you need $600, you could withdraw $300 on two separate days.

You can also withdraw more money than what is allowed at the ATM by making the transaction with a teller at a bank branch.

Switching banks might be another option if you find yourself frequently wanting more cash than is allowed from the ATM in a day.

Obtaining a cash advance from your credit card is another way to get cash, but this works best as a last resort, since cash advances often come with fees and high interest rates.

Alternatives to the ATM if you’ve hit the limit

Default daily ATM limits might not cut it for some emergencies. Getting cash back with a debit card purchase made at a store could be an alternative.

This money will likely count toward your bank’s point-of-sale daily limit, which might be higher than your default ATM limit. The store you’re shopping at may limit the amount of cash you can take out at the register, though.

What to do before you need cash in an emergency

Finding out your bank’s ATM daily limit now may help you to be better prepared for an emergency situation. It’s also a good idea to use your debit or ATM card every few months to make sure it stays active.

Knowing both your card’s ATM withdrawal limits and the amount you’re able to withdraw from a certain machine can make a sudden need for cash easier to handle.

Bottom line

An ATM is convenient for withdrawing money from your checking account, as long as you don’t need more cash than the daily limit allows. In addition to knowing which machines won’t charge you ATM fees, it helps to know how much you’re allowed to withdraw at the ATM each day — and alternative ways to obtain cash, if needed.

In a digital age it is important to know you can still access cash when you need it. And whether it is from your bank, nearest ATM, or in-store cashback—there are plenty of ways to withdraw money.

Wherever you are, at home or abroad, withdrawing or depositing physical funds could not be simpler. Discover our guide on how to withdraw money from an ATM or bank near you, and swiftly withdraw euros while you’re on the go.

How to get more money out of ATM

Cash withdrawals electronically convert funds from your bank account, savings, or pension to physical cash in hand. Cash deposits work exactly the same way, only in reverse—physical money is deposited and digitally added back into the linked account.

If you visit a branch of your bank, a representative will handle your transaction in person. Take your debit card, or a form of ID and your account details, and they can process the withdrawal for you, as long as you have enough funds.

You can withdraw money at many retail stores when making a debit card purchase—the requested amount is added to your bill total, then given to you in cash. You’ll later see the withdrawal in your account statement.

Automated teller machines (ATMs) link your debit card to your checking account, giving you full access to your funds. As most machines accept all cards, you can most likely use any ATM, no matter who you bank with.

Open an N26 account in minutes and you will receive a free virtual N26 debit Mastercard with free cash withdrawals each month at select ATMs. Better still, our premium You and Metal accounts include unlimited free foreign currency withdrawals, anywhere in the world

Making an ATM withdrawal couldn’t be easier.

  1. Just insert your physical card or scan your virtual one over the reader, select the language option, and enter your 4-digit PIN number.
  2. Once the PIN is approved, select ‘withdrawal’ for transaction type, and enter the amount you want to withdraw.
  3. Finally, collect your cash (and receipt if needed) and take back your debit card, if the machine hasn’t returned it already. Transaction complete!

How to get more money out of ATM

To withdraw money abroad, simply find a local ATM and complete your withdrawal using your PIN. You can also use CASH26 in selected European countries to withdraw cash at participating stores. Withdrawals in the Eurozone are free for N26 customers, and withdrawals worldwide are free for You and Metal account holders. However, the Terms and Conditions for withdrawals abroad may vary based on your account plan and country, so check your account for details.

How to get more money out of ATM

Need the nearest ATM to withdraw money? You can use an online or app-based locator that provides a marked map of all ATMs in your current location. Use our N26 ATM locator feature now, and with one touch of the map symbol on the Cash map you can quickly navigate your way to the nearest ATM.

As an N26 customer, you can use your virtual Mastercard to withdraw cash from an NFC-enabled ATM with just your smartphone. Simply hold your card up to the reader to complete your transaction. Plus, if you’re in Germany, Austria, Italy, Spain, or Greece, you can use CASH26 to withdraw cash at participating stores—no card required.

Your cash withdrawal limit varies from bank to bank. Most ATM withdrawal limits are between €200–€300 a day. Always be aware of your bank's withdrawal limit, especially if the money you need exceeds that amount.

For N26 customers, the maximum withdrawal limit from an ATM is €1,000 for most countries. You can also lower the withdrawal limit in your smartphone app. For swift and easy access to your own cash up to €1,000, choose the right N26 account for you.

How to get more money out of ATM

N26 Smart

The bank account that gives you more control

How to get more money out of ATM

  • Free Virtual Card
  • Up to 10 Spaces sub-accounts
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N26 You

The debit card for everyday and travel

How to get more money out of ATM

  • Up to 5 free withdrawals in the Eurozone
  • Flight and luggage delay cover
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N26 Metal

The premium account with a metal card

How to get more money out of ATM

  • An 18-gram metal card
  • Up to 8 free withdrawals in the Eurozone
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To withdraw money from an automated teller machine (ATM) you will need your debit card specific to your checking account, and your 4-digit PIN number ready.

To withdraw money from a tradicional bank, you will need your debit card specific to your checking account and a form of ID, to provide to the bank teller.

Cash withdrawal limits vary from bank to bank. Some banks start at a €200 limit per day, but many go up to €300. With an N26 account, you can withdraw up to €1,000 per day and set your limit lower at your discretion.

You can locate your nearest ATM using an online app locator, which will give you a map that marks all ATM cash points near you. Find your nearest cash point with N26’s ATM location app.

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