RBI changes domestic money transfer rules: How much cash can you send or receive without a bank account?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has issued a fresh set of directions for domestic money transfers, bringing together the existing rules governing small-value fund transfers through banking channels.

The new rules focus on how customers can send money through banks and authorised agents, including cash-based remittances. The RBI rules also explain how cash payout transfers and cash pay-in transfers can be made and what are their limits.

The RBI's new directions can be useful for people who don't have a bank account but want to send money. Such account holders can be migrant workers and other people who want to transfer money to family members in different parts of India.


The new RBI (Domestic Money Transfer) Directions, 2026, issued on November 11, 2026, came into effect immediately.

How much money can be transferred from a bank account through the RBI's cash pay-out service?

Under the cash pay-out service, a maximum of Rs 10,000 can be transferred in one transaction, subject to a monthly limit of Rs 25,000 per beneficiary.

Can you transfer cash to a bank account without having a bank account?

The RBI said that banks can transfer money from their customers’ accounts to people who do not have bank accounts.

The recipient can collect money in cash through an automated teller machine (ATM), a business correspondent (BC) and another authorised payment channel.

The recipient can collect the money in cash through an ATM, a Business Correspondent (BC) agent or any other authorised payment channel. The bank sending the money must record and keep the beneficiary’s name and address.

How much money can a walk-in customer at a bank branch credit to the bank account of a beneficiary through NEFT?

A walk-in customer at a bank branch can remit funds up to Rs 50,000 to the bank account of a beneficiary through NEFT.

What are the limits for customers to transfer money to a beneficiary's bank account through ATMs and business correspondents?

Banks are also permitted to allow such customers to transfer funds to a beneficiary's bank account through Business Correspondents (BCs), ATMs, etc., up to a maximum amount of Rs 5,000 per transaction with a monthly cap of Rs 25,000 per remitter.

Banks and BCs must also follow the applicable cash deposit provisions under the Income-Tax Act, 2025. The remitting bank must include the remitter's details in the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS)/NEFT transaction message and clearly identify the transfer as a cash-based remittance.

Which safeguards has RBI prescribed to prevent the misuse of domestic money transfers?

Banks and non-banks must put proper safeguards in place, including checks on the frequency of transactions and alerts to customers when money is credited to their accounts through these facilities. Any sudden increase in the number of credits in a particular account or group of accounts must be investigated immediately.

The concerned authorities must also be informed about suspicious transactions.

Fund transfers under these directions are expected to take place in real time or as close to real time as possible.

How will banks settle domestic money transfer transactions?

Inter-bank settlement of funds under the Domestic Money Transfer framework will be effected using only RBI-approved payment systems.

How much will banks charge for domestic money transfer services?

Banks and non-banks, as applicable, may fix reasonable charges for Domestic Money Transfer services with a view to popularising the facility.

Where can customers raise complaints about domestic money transfer services?

Banks and non-banks, as applicable, may put in place appropriate systems for redressal of customer grievances arising from Domestic Money Transfer services.

Which transactions will be excluded from the RBI’s new directions?

The RBI says that card-to-card transfers will be excluded from the purview of these directions and will be governed by the guidelines/approvals granted for the respective payment instruments.

Which banks will be covered under the RBI’s new directions?

These new RBI directions will be applicable to all scheduled commercial banks, including Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), urban co-operative banks, state co-operative banks, district central co-operative banks, and authorised payment system operators and system participants, to the extent applicable to the respective domestic money transfer services.