Russia is considering the introduction of a new restriction on cash deposits made by individuals through ATMs. The proposal involves a potential monthly cap of 1 million rubles, which is being discussed as part of a draft law prepared by the Ministry of Finance. The document was drafted in early 2026 and sent for coordination to the Bank of Russia and Rosfinmonitoring. At present, no official limits are in force, and all proposed changes remain at the discussion stage.
The initiative is linked to the government’s efforts to strengthen control over cash circulation. Toward the end of 2025, public policy signaled a shift toward tighter monitoring of financial flows, particularly funds with unclear or hard-to-verify origins. The absence of limits on cash deposits via ATMs currently allows significant sums to be credited to accounts without additional scrutiny, which regulators believe creates risks for the financial system and may be used for income-laundering schemes.
The proposed 1 million ruble cap is viewed as an intermediate control mechanism. It does not prohibit citizens from holding or using large amounts of cash, but it specifically restricts automated cash deposits through self-service devices. If the monthly threshold is exceeded, the transaction would be technically blocked, and customers wishing to deposit a larger amount would need to visit a bank branch, where the bank could request documents confirming the source of the funds.
It is important to note that under current legislation there are no limits on cash deposits via ATMs for individuals. Citizens are free to top up their accounts with any amount, provided the transaction does not raise suspicions under anti-money-laundering regulations. The approach proposed by the Ministry of Finance differs fundamentally from the existing model in that it introduces a predefined threshold, rather than responding to suspicious transactions after they occur.
The potential changes are expected to have the greatest impact on entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals who rely on cash payments. For those who regularly receive cash revenue, depositing funds through ATMs may become less convenient, requiring either more careful planning or a shift toward cashless payment methods. Banks—especially those focused on remote services and lacking an extensive branch network—may also face additional operational challenges as a result.
The core objective of the proposed measures is to strengthen oversight of the origin of funds. Banks and Rosfinmonitoring already have the authority to request supporting documentation in cases of suspicious activity, but introducing a limit on cash deposits via ATMs is intended to make this control more systematic. Regulators expect such a mechanism to help identify atypical financial flows more quickly and reduce the volume of questionable transactions in the economy.
As a result, talk of an outright "ban" or of restrictions already being in effect is premature. The 1 million ruble limit remains a proposal that may be revised or refined before any final decision is made. Nevertheless, the very emergence of such a draft law points to a broader trend: automated transactions involving large amounts of cash are likely to come under increasingly strict government oversight.
