A method is described for the withdrawal of cash at automatic telling machines in which the beneficiary of the payment does not have to make use of a card, account or any other instrument in order to obtain cash, and without the need for any transfer of funds to take place. The method envisages that cash should be withdrawn by means of a payment order via SMS, permitting a principal to use a mobile telephone to order the payment of a certain amount of money to a third party, who, thanks to the information received at his mobile telephone, may withdraw that amount from any cash dispenser enabled for the purpose, having as a means of security an exclusive code or PIN for each operation known only by the principal and the beneficiary. The method of payment via SMS contemplated by the invention is especially applicable to the existing network of cash dispensers and services.