Banks can impose ATM withdrawal limits out of practicality and for security reasons.

First, ATMs can hold only so much cash, and banks have only so much cash they can distribute to customers at any given time. Setting an ATM withdrawal max for each customer helps the bank control the movement of available cash.

The other reason has to do with security and protecting customer accounts. Say that someone stole your debit card and PIN. Without an ATM withdrawal limit, they may be able to drain your chequing or savings account and pocket all your cash, especially given that all retail PIN pads in Canada have contactless payment options that don’t even require your PIN.

While ATM withdrawal limits may seem like a nuisance, they serve an important purpose in keeping your money safe.

Your ATM max withdrawal limit depends on who you bank with, as each bank or credit union establishes its own policies. Most often, ATM cash withdrawal limits range from $300 to $1,000 per day.

Again, this is determined by the bank or credit union—there is no standard daily ATM withdrawal limit. Your personal bank ATM withdrawal limit also may depend on the types of accounts you have and your banking history.

For example, if you’re brand-new to a bank and you’ve opened a basic chequing account, you may have a lower ATM withdrawal limit than someone who’s had a premium chequng account there for 10 years. Specialty accounts, such as second chance chequing or student chequing, may also have different cash withdrawal limits at the ATM.

How Much Money Can You Withdraw From an ATM at One Time?

In addition to a daily ATM limit set by the bank or credit union, some ATMs can have restrictions on the amount of cash that can be dispensed per withdrawal. Daily ATM cash withdrawal limits may be different from daily purchase limits.

For example, your bank may limit you to withdrawing $400 at the ATM, but you may be able to make up to $4,000 in purchases each day using your debit card. Institutions may keep ATM withdrawal limits and purchase limits separate or set a third limit on the total amount of money you can take out of your account via withdrawals and purchases each day.

Again, these limits are designed to smooth cash flow for the bank while protecting you and your accounts.

The higher your bank’s daily ATM withdrawal limit or per-transaction limit, the more cash you’ll be able to get.

This means if your bank imposes a $1,000 max ATM withdrawal limit per day, that’s the most cash you’ll be able to withdraw, regardless of which ATM you use. This is why it’s important to carefully review the fine print when opening a new bank account. The terms and conditions should outline exactly how much cash you can get from ATMs.

Even if you don’t carry cash very often, it’s important to be able to get cash when you need it, in the amount you need. If your bank or credit union has a lower daily ATM cash withdrawal limit, that could be a problem if you ever need a larger amount of money and can’t get to a branch to withdraw it.

Daily ATM Withdrawal Limits at Top Banks

Banks vary when it comes to how much or how little cash they’ll allow you to withdraw from your checking account at an ATM each day. There can be differences in the bank ATM withdrawal limit for big banks versus regional or community banks. Brick-and-mortar banks may also set daily ATM withdrawal limits differently than online banks.

Keep in mind that these ATM withdrawal limits apply to chequing accounts. If you also have a savings account or money market account at the same bank, different ATM withdrawal limits may apply. You should also know the bank’s monthly withdrawal transaction limits for savings accounts.

Though you are not limited on the number of withdrawals you can make from a savings account at many Canadian banks, your bank my charge you a high fee for any debit transaction or payment where the source of the funds is your savings account. You may also be required to maintain a minimum balance in your savings account or else be charged a monthly fee to keep it open, which will also limit your withdrawals.

If your bank does have a transaction limit in place on any of your accounts, it’s important to know what it is to avoid exceeding it. Excess withdrawals over the allowed limit can trigger a pricey fee per transaction.

The easiest way to raise your ATM withdrawal limits is to call and ask for an increase. Your bank or credit union may be willing to raise your ATM cash withdrawal limits temporarily or permanently.

Whether the bank agrees to this can depend on:

• How long you’ve been a customer
• What type of accounts you have at the bank
• Your account history, including the amount of money you typically keep on hand
• Whether you’re asking for a short-term or permanent increase

Let’s say you’re planning to make a large purchase or go on vacation. In this scenario, your bank may be willing to increase your ATM withdrawal limit for a few days or a few weeks. Once this temporary period ends, your limit will revert to whatever it was previously.

If you’re interested in getting a permanent increase in your daily ATM withdrawal limit, be prepared to make a case for why the bank should agree to it. Remember that banks have these limits in place for security reasons, so if you do get a higher limit, it’s important to keep a close eye on your debit card. Otherwise, someone could have access to more of the cash in your account if your card is lost or stolen.

It’s possible you could hit your ATM daily cash withdrawal limit and still need more cash to cover a purchase or for another reason. Here are some things you can do to access your money when you need it:

• Get cash back at checkout when making a purchase
• Withdraw money from a savings account (transfer to chequing first to avoid any fees)
• Withdraw cash at a branch
• Cash a cheque

Cash Back in Store

If you’re shopping in a store, you may be able to get cash back at the checkout without it counting toward your daily ATM withdrawal limit. However, there are a few caveats.

First, it could still count toward your daily purchase limit or cash withdrawal limit. So be aware of the caps your bank imposes on your account for purchases or point-of-sale cash withdrawal transactions.

Next, make a note of the store’s cash-back limit. For example, you may be limited to $100 in cash back at the checkout, depending on where you’re shopping. If the store has a lower limit, you may need to make multiple purchases to withdraw the full amount of cash you need. And again, each of these transactions will count toward your daily purchase limit.

Withdrawing Money From Savings

Withdrawing money from a savings account via an ATM card is another way to get around daily ATM withdrawal limits for a chequing account. There may still be limits on savings account transactions, but you could access cash this way if necessary. If you don’t have an ATM card, you can withdraw cash at a bank branch instead.

Withdrawing Cash at a Branch

You can also withdraw cash from your chequing account at a branch if you’ve exceeded your daily ATM withdrawal limits. A teller can help you withdraw cash from a chequing, savings or money market account. Though withdrawing money from a money market or registered account like a Tax-Free Savings Account TFSA usually requires an in-branch appointment with an investment specialist first.

However, if you need a larger amount of money, you may want to consider more secure ways to pay, other than cash. For example, if you’re buying a car, you could get a bank draft, a certified cheque or even a money order to cover the transaction. This way, you have a paper trail documenting the payment and you’re not carrying around large amounts of cash.

Cashing a Cheque

A fourth option for getting around ATM withdrawal limits is cashing a cheque. You’d simply write the cheque out to “Cash,” sign it and take it to the bank to cash it.

Once again, it’s important to be aware of any limits the bank may impose on cashing checks. There may be limits on the amount of cash you can withdraw this way or the number of cheques you can make out to “Cash” in a single day.

The amount of cash you can withdraw from a bank in a single day will depend on the bank’s cash withdrawal policy. Your bank may allow you to withdraw $5,000, $10,000 or even $20,000 in cash per day. Or your daily cash withdrawal limits may be well below these amounts.

It’s important to note that the federal government tracks large cash withdrawals and deposits. Banks are required to report any single transactions involving the withdrawal of $10,000 or more in cash or cash equivalents, such as bank drafts or money orders.

This rule applies to lump-sum withdrawals or deposits and related payments that occur within 24 hours. The CRA requires this reporting to detect potentially fraudulent activity. This shouldn’t discourage you from withdrawing $10,000 in cash to buy a car or pay for another large purchase if needed, but it’s worth noting that those transactions will come under the notice of the CRA.

When you need emergency cash, visit the ATM. Call your bank to ask for a limit increase if you hit ATM withdrawal limits.

When that isn’t an option, you can try some of the methods mentioned earlier, such as getting cash back at the checkout or writing a cheque out to “Cash.” As a last resort, you may consider a credit card cash advance.

Taking a cash advance from a credit card simply means withdrawing cash from your credit limit. It’s essentially a type of short-term loan. This is a convenience that many credit card companies offer as an account benefit. You can get a cash advance with your card at a bank or ATM, or access cash using a convenience check.

There are some potential downsides, however. Cash advances have an annual percentage rate or APR just like purchases, but the difference is that this interest starts accruing right away—there’s no grace period for cash advances. Interest on a cash advance often accrues at a higher rate than your standard purchase APR. Additionally, you may pay a cash advance fee equal to a percentage of the advance amount.

Between interest charges and the fee, a cash advance can be an expensive way to get cash quickly. For this reason, you may be better off approaching your bank first about a temporary ATM withdrawal limit increase or withdrawing cash at a branch instead.

Bottom Line

ATMs exist for your convenience, and ATM withdrawal limits exist for your protection. Banks also restrict ATM withdrawals to ensure they’ll have enough cash for other customers. If your current bank or credit union’s ATM cash withdrawal limit is lower than you’d like—either in general or for an immediate transaction—reach out to your financial institution and ask to have your limit increased.