Which ATMs in India work for cash withdrawals with a foreign bank card, and what problems should travelers expect?

Traveler feedback clarifies that foreign cards in India typically work only for ATM cash withdrawals, not for point-of-sale payments — even at large shopping malls, paying by card often fails. Visitors should plan on withdrawing cash rather than relying on card payments with a foreign card.

Recent traveler feedback says ATB cards worked in most Indian ATMs, but SBI machines often declined withdrawals for no obvious reason. In practice, if SBI rejects your card, it is better to try another bank's ATM right away instead of repeating the transaction there.

Looking for your home bank's branded ATM in India may be impractical: travelers reported that Russian Agricultural Bank had only about 8 ATMs across the entire country. For cash access, it is more realistic to use any major local ATM network rather than hunt for a specific partner bank.

If you have a non-Russian foreign card, cash withdrawals from Indian ATMs are generally possible. This remains one of the most practical payment methods for visitors, especially when Indian payment apps are unavailable without a local bank account.

Opening a bank account and getting a local card in India can currently be difficult for foreigners. Travelers mentioned that Canara Bank sometimes opens accounts, but refusals are reportedly much more common than approvals, so visitors should not rely on getting an Indian card quickly after arrival.

For everyday spending in India, many locals use payment apps linked to Indian bank accounts, so travelers without a local account should keep cash as backup. Some visitors used Cheq successfully, but online payment options may be limited, for example with Amazon India.