Can You Deposit $100 Bills in an ATM?

Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) offer a convenient way to manage personal finances, allowing individuals to perform various banking tasks outside traditional branch hours. These self-service terminals are widely used for cash withdrawals, balance inquiries, and increasingly, for depositing funds. Many individuals find themselves needing to deposit cash, and a common question arises regarding the acceptance of larger denominations, such as $100 bills, at these machines.

Accepting $100 Bills for Deposit

Most modern ATMs are equipped to accept $100 bills for deposit, alongside other common denominations like $5, $10, $20, and $50 bills. This capability is standard for ATMs operated by major financial institutions, reflecting advancements in ATM technology. Current models are designed to process a wide range of bill types.

The machine’s ability to accept a bill can be influenced by its physical condition. Heavily damaged, torn, or excessively worn bills may be rejected by the ATM’s sensors, even if they are genuine currency. Such bills typically require deposit at a bank branch with a teller. Counterfeit detection systems are also integrated into ATMs, and any bill flagged as suspicious will not be accepted.

The Deposit Process

Depositing cash into an ATM involves straightforward steps. First, the user inserts their debit card into the designated slot and enters their Personal Identification Number (PIN) to access their account. Next, from the main menu, the “Deposit” option is selected, followed by choosing “Cash Deposit” when prompted.

The ATM will then instruct the user to insert the bills into a specific cash deposit slot. Modern ATMs typically do not require envelopes; users simply insert the stack of bills directly into the machine. The machine’s internal sensors count and verify the denominations, displaying the total amount detected on the screen for the user to review. Confirm this amount matches the intended deposit before proceeding. After verifying the sum, the user confirms the transaction, and the ATM will issue a receipt detailing the deposit.

Fund Availability and Deposit Limits

After a cash deposit is made at an ATM, the availability of funds can vary. Some banks make cash deposits available immediately, while others require one or two business days for processing before funds are fully accessible. This processing time allows the bank to verify the deposit. Deposits made after a bank’s daily cutoff time or on weekends and federal holidays are typically processed on the next business day.

Financial institutions often impose daily deposit limits for ATMs, which vary by bank, account type, or the number of bills the machine accepts. For instance, an ATM might limit deposits to 200 notes per transaction, indirectly setting a monetary limit. Customers should consult their bank’s policies for fund availability and deposit limits. Banks may also report cash deposits exceeding $10,000 to federal authorities.