According to a report by CMS Info Systems, cash withdrawals across automated teller machines in the country showed signs of decline in 2025. The monthly average cash dispensed per ATM in 2025 stood at ₹1.21 crore across the country against ₹1.30 crore in 2024-25. The company, which manages 73,000 ATMs in the country for various entities, used to share data from a fiscal year perspective till now and has started sharing it for a calendar year now. Data for the monthly average cash dispensed per ATM in 2024 was not immediately available.
The CMS Consumption Report for 2025 revealed that the monthly average ticket size of ATM withdrawals increased by 4.5 per cent to ₹5,835 in 2025 from ₹5,586 in 2024. This indicates that while the frequency of withdrawals decreased, the amount taken per transaction increased significantly. The company noted that ease of mobility influences the overall numbers, with the data reflecting shifts in consumer behavior patterns.
ATMs in Karnataka had the highest withdrawals at ₹1.73 crore per machine, while the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir reported the lowest at ₹83 lakh, as per the report. The company found that semi-urban and rural areas showed more tendency to withdraw cash from ATMs at ₹1.30 crore per machine in 2025 against ₹1.18 crore in metro areas and ₹1.11 crore in urban pockets. This demonstrates a continued, robust dependence on cash outside of the major cities, where digital payment infrastructure may be less pervasive or trusted.
Climate events like monsoon, heatwave and pollution, along with festivals, had an impact on the monthly average ATM cash dispensed, according to the report. The company noted that ease of mobility influences the overall numbers, with the data reflecting shifts in consumer behavior patterns.
The last year has seen a higher propensity to use digital payments among people, with monthly volumes hitting new highs. India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) processed a staggering 228 billion transactions worth a cumulative ₹300 trillion in 2025, representing a 33% increase in volume from the previous year. This trend coincides with the decline in traditional ATM withdrawals, suggesting a fundamental shift in how Indians conduct financial transactions. The rising ATM ticket size suggests that even citizens who actively use UPI still rely on cash for significant purchases or as a store of value, a habit that persists despite digital convenience.
Using data from the cash management services provided to merchants, the company shared trends on the consumption landscape that pointed to changes after the GST reforms in September last year. Insurance had the second-largest share of a person's wallet in 2025 at 25 per cent, courtesy a 32 per cent growth driven by the reforms initiated by the government. However, certain categories showed a decline in spending, including education (7 per cent), hospitality (9 per cent) and media and entertainment (15 per cent).
