Using the ATM ? Careful. New Rules Apply

Frequent withdrawal of cash from ATMs or automated teller machines will become expensive from November, with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposing a limit of three free transactions per month from ATMs of other banks and five from the same bank in metropolitan cities.

A customer will be required to pay a fee of up to Rs 20 for using ATMs beyond the permitted numbers of transactions in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Hyderabad.

"The number of mandatory free ATM transactions for savings bank account customers at other banks' ATMs is reduced from the present 5 to 3 transactions per month (inclusive of both financial and non-financial transactions) for transactions done at the ATMs located in 6 metro centres," RBI said in a notification.

With regard to own bank ATMs, RBI said that banks will have to permit at least five free transactions per month (both financial and non-financial).

The new guidelines, which were issued in pursuance of a representation made to the central bank by Indian Banks' Association (IBA), will come into effect from November 1, 2014.

Banks have been allowed to charge a maximum fee of Rs 20 per transaction beyond the stipulated ceilings.

The RBI also made it clear that the said reduction will not apply to small/no frills/basic savings bank deposit account holders.

Also, it will not be applicable for account holders other than in the six metro cities. India has a total of 1.6 lakh ATMs across the country as of March 2014.