The three ways to put cash into your account
You can deposit cash at an ATM, at a teller window inside your bank branch, or through a cash deposit envelope at a night drop box. ATMs are the fastest if your bank has one nearby and your machine accepts cash deposits — not all do. A teller window takes longer but works at any bank branch during business hours. Night drop boxes let you deposit outside of hours, though the money won't show in your account until the next business day.
Which method you use depends on how much cash you have, when you need to deposit it, and what your bank offers. A $20 bill goes fastest through an ATM. A large amount of cash — say $500 or more — often goes through a teller, because ATMs have daily limits and can jam with too many bills at once.
Key Takeaways
- ATM deposits are fastest but only work if your bank's machine accepts cash, and most have daily limits between $1,000 and $5,000.
- Teller deposits at a branch window work for any amount and give you a receipt on the spot, but you need to go during business hours.
- Night drop boxes let you deposit cash after hours, but the bank won't process it until the next business day.
- The bank counts the cash and posts it to your account, usually within one business day, though some banks take longer.
- Deposits over $10,000 trigger a federal report, but this is routine and does not mean anything is wrong.
Depositing cash at an ATM
Walk to an ATM owned by your bank, insert your debit card, and enter your PIN. Select "Deposit" from the menu. The machine will ask whether you want to deposit cash, a check, or both. Choose cash. The ATM will show you a slot or drawer where you insert your bills.
Feed the bills in one at a time, facing the same direction. The machine reads each bill and displays the amount on screen. Once you've inserted all your cash, confirm the total and complete the transaction. The ATM prints a receipt showing the deposit amount and your new balance.
Most ATMs that accept cash have daily limits — commonly $1,000 to $5,000 per day, though this varies by bank. If you're depositing more than your limit, you'll need to use a teller window instead. Some ATMs also reject bills that are torn, folded, or too worn, so smooth out your cash before you insert it.
Depositing cash at a teller window
Go to your bank branch during business hours with your cash and your debit card or account number. Tell the teller you want to deposit cash. Hand over the bills — you don't need to count them out loud or organize them in any special way. The teller will count the cash in front of you, enter the amount into the system, and ask you to confirm it's correct.
The teller will print a deposit receipt showing the amount deposited, the date, and your new account balance. Keep this receipt until you see the deposit show up in your online banking or on your statement. Teller deposits work for any amount — there's no daily limit — and the money typically posts to your account the same day or by the next business day.
If you don't have your debit card, bring a government-issued ID. If you're depositing into someone else's account (with their permission), bring their account number and your ID.
Using a night drop box
A night drop box is a secure slot on the outside of your bank building that stays open 24 hours. You seal your cash in an envelope provided by the bank, write your account number on the envelope, and slide it into the slot. The bank retrieves the envelope the next morning, counts the cash, and posts it to your account.
Night drop deposits don't show up in your account immediately — the bank won't process them until the next business day. If you deposit cash on a Friday evening, it may not post until Monday. For this reason, night drop is useful when you have cash after hours but aren't in a rush, or when you want a record of depositing the money even though you can't be there when the bank opens.
Ask your bank whether they provide night drop envelopes or whether you need to bring your own. Some banks require you to be a customer in good standing to use the night drop.
When the deposit shows up in your account
Cash deposits at a teller window or ATM usually post to your account the same business day, often within a few hours. If you deposit cash after 2 p.m. on a weekday, it may not post until the next day. Deposits made on weekends or holidays post on the next business day.
Night drop deposits always post the next business day at the earliest, because the bank has to retrieve and count the envelope first. Once the bank counts your cash and enters it into the system, the money is yours to spend — you can withdraw it, transfer it, or use your debit card immediately.
If a deposit doesn't show up within two business days, contact your bank. Bring your receipt if you have one. The bank can look up the deposit in their system and tell you exactly when it posted.
Large cash deposits and federal reporting
If you deposit more than $10,000 in cash in a single transaction or multiple transactions within a short time, your bank files a Currency Transaction Report with the federal government. This is a routine report — it does not mean you've done anything wrong. Banks file these reports for all large cash deposits as part of federal anti-money-laundering rules.
You don't need to do anything special. The bank files the report automatically. You won't see it, and it doesn't affect your account or your ability to use your money. If a teller asks you questions about where the cash came from, they're required to ask — it's part of the same federal requirement. Answer honestly. Common reasons for large cash deposits include selling a car, cashing out a business, or withdrawing savings you kept at home.
What to do if your bank doesn't have cash deposit ATMs
Not all banks operate ATMs that accept cash deposits. If yours doesn't, your options are to visit a teller window during business hours or use a night drop box if your bank has one. Some banks partner with other banks' ATM networks, so you might be able to use a cash deposit ATM at a partner bank even if your own bank doesn't have them.
Call your bank's customer service line or check their website to find out which ATMs near you accept cash deposits. If you regularly need to deposit large amounts of cash and your bank doesn't offer convenient options, this is worth considering when choosing a bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I deposit someone else's cash into my account?
Yes. The money belongs to whoever deposits it, not whoever owns the account. If you deposit cash into your account, it's your money. If someone else deposits cash into your account with your permission, it's their money until they give it to you. Keep a record of who deposited what and when, especially for large amounts.
What if the ATM rejects my bills?
The machine may reject bills that are torn, folded, very old, or written on. Smooth the bills flat, remove any tape or staples, and try again. If the ATM keeps rejecting them, use a teller window instead — tellers can often accept bills that machines won't read.
Do I need to tell the bank I'm depositing cash?
No. You don't need to call ahead or fill out any forms for routine cash deposits. Just show up with your cash and your debit card. The only exception is if you're depositing an unusually large amount and want to make sure the teller has enough time — in that case, calling ahead is polite but not required.
What happens if I deposit cash but lose my receipt?
Your deposit is still in the system. Check your account online or call the bank to confirm the deposit posted. If it did, you're fine — the receipt is just a record for your own files. If it didn't post within two business days, contact the bank with the date and approximate amount you deposited, and they can investigate.
Can I deposit cash at a different bank than mine?
No. You can only deposit cash into an account at the bank that holds the account. You cannot walk into Bank B and deposit cash into an account at Bank A. If you need to move cash between banks, deposit it into your account first, then transfer it electronically to the other bank.