The number of automated teller machines (ATMs) declined moderately in FY25 amid rise in digital payments, a report by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Monday.

As of 31 March 2025, ATMs reduced in number to 2,51,057 from 2,53,417 a year ago.

Public sector banks continued to lead over the private lenders but still saw a decline in ATMs to 1,33,544 as on 31 March from 1,24,694 in the earlier-year period.

Private sector banks' ATM network declined to 77,117 from 79,884 in the last year. Both the sectors shut down offsite ATMs.

"Increase in digitalisation of payments has reduced the customers' requirement of transacting with ATMs," the RBI report on Trend and Progress of Banking in India for FY25 said.

According to the report, the independently-run white label ATMs increased to 36,216 from 34,602 in the year-ago period.

Public sector banks had a more even distribution of ATMs between rural, semi-urban, urban and metropolitan areas, while the private sector banks and foreign banks had a concentration in the urban and metropolitan areas in their ATM networks.

As of 31 March 2025, 79.4% of the total white label ATMs were in rural and semi-urban centres.