( MOSCOW REGION, RUSSIA ) – Millions of people in Russia reported difficulties withdrawing their own cash from automatic teller machines (ATMs) during the holiday season, according to media reports at the end of 2025 and early 2026. Many customers said they were unable to obtain money even when their bank accounts held sufficient balances.
Bank clients from across the country reported that ATMs blocked larger-than-usual cash withdrawals or delayed transactions. In some cases bank staff contacted customers to request additional verification before releasing funds. Banks cited concerns about fraud and unusual activity as reasons for the increased checks.
Financial analysts and some citizens interpreted these restrictions as a sign of broader stress within the Russian banking system. Banks in Russia have faced a significant rise in non-performing loans for both households and small businesses. As a result, many Russians have withdrawn large sums of currency from their accounts out of concern for the stability of their banks.
A series of reports indicated that panic withdrawals reached significant volumes in 2025, contributing to cash shortages in branches and ATMs. Older citizens who lived through earlier financial crises in the country compared the current situation to similar episodes of limited access to funds in past decades.
Reported banking issues:
| Issue Reported | Description |
|---|---|
| ATM withdrawal limits | Banks restricting the amount of cash released by ATMs |
| Verification procedures | Customers asked for additional personal information |
| Cash shortages | ATMs reportedly running low on available currency |
| Bad debts | Rising levels of loans not being repaid affecting bank liquidity |
| Public concern | Widespread worry about access to personal savings |
Banks and financial authorities in Russia stated that heightened checks were part of efforts to prevent fraud during a busy holiday period. Some institutions also explained that unusual patterns of ATM use at different locations triggered automated security protocols.
Customers described situations in which they were asked about their recent electronic messages or the locations where they used their bank cards before ATM access was granted. These procedures, widely perceived as intrusive, added to public frustration.
Economists outside Russia noted that ongoing pressures on the Russian economy, including the sustained cost of the war in Ukraine, have placed strain on government budgets and financial institutions.