how much cash can i deposit at a bank

There's generally no strict legal limit on how much cash you can deposit at a bank in one go, but crossing certain thresholds triggers reporting requirements to prevent money laundering and tax evasion. In the US, for example, deposits over $10,000 in a single business day must be reported via a Currency Transaction Report (CTR) to the IRS and FinCEN. Banks might also have their own daily or per-transaction caps, like $5,000-$10,000 at ATMs, depending on the institution and account type.

Key Reporting Thresholds

Different countries have varying rules—here's a breakdown based on common jurisdictions as of early 2026:

Country/Region| Threshold| What Happens| Source Notes
---|---|---|---
United States| $10,000+ per day (single or aggregated)| CTR filed with IRS/FinCEN; no tax owed, just monitoring 2810| Applies to cash; structuring to avoid (e.g., multiple small deposits) is illegal
India (Savings Account)| ₹50,000+ per day or ₹10 lakhs/year| PAN required; SFT report to Income Tax Dept 34| Banks charge fees beyond free limits (e.g., ₹2 lakhs/month at HDFC) 3
India (Current Account)| ₹50 lakhs/year| SFT report; potential TDS on excess withdrawals 15| No cap on deposits, but scrutiny ramps up
UK| No deposit cap; FSCS protection up to £120,000 (from Dec 2025) 7| Transaction monitoring for AML; protection if bank fails| Inflation-adjusted from prior £85k limit

Why Limits Exist & Practical Tips

These rules stem from anti-money laundering (AML) laws like the Bank Secrecy Act in the US. Imagine you're a small business owner depositing legit sales cash—over $10k flags a form, but it's routine if documented. Banks may ask for source proof (invoices, etc.) to avoid suspicion.

• Avoid structuring : Don't split deposits to dodge reports—it's a federal crime.

• Check your bank : Call ahead; e.g., Capital One ATM max is $5k.

• International travel : Declare over $10k when entering US.

• Business accounts : Often higher scrutiny but fewer per-transaction fees.

Forum & Trending Buzz

Online chatter, like Reddit's r/personalfinance, echoes this: "Deposited $12k from a car sale—no issues after CTR, just ID check." Recent 2026 updates in India tightened SFT for current accounts amid tax crackdowns. US rules remain steady post-2024 elections.

TL;DR : Deposit any amount legally sourced, but expect paperwork over $10k (US) or equivalent elsewhere. Always verify with your bank.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.