If you forget to take your cash from an ATM (cash machine), most modern machines are programmed to "retract" or suck the money back inside after a short period of time—usually between 20 and 30 seconds. This is a security feature designed to prevent the next person in line from simply taking your forgotten funds. When the machine retracts the cash, it typically logs the event as an "incomplete transaction" or a "purge." Your bank will eventually reconcile the ATM's internal records with the electronic logs. In many cases, the money is automatically credited back to your account within a few business days under a label like "ATM Correction." If the reversal doesn't happen automatically, you should contact your bank immediately to file a claim. However, there is a risk: if another person manages to grab the money before the machine retracts it, the bank may consider the transaction successful. In such cases, you might need to file a police report for "theft by finding," and the bank may review CCTV footage to identify the individual. To avoid this stress, always wait for the machine to finish its cycle and ensure you have both your card and your cash before walking away.