A Guide to Banks with Coin Machines and How to Use Them

Do you have spare change in your pocket and need help figuring out what to do? Does your piggy bank still exist and is full of coins? Or are you in dire need of cash but only have coins? Well then, dust them off and ready your loose change, coins machine still exist. Let’s explore coin machines, how they work, and where to find one.

What Are Coin Machines, and How Do They Work?

Coin machines or coin-counting machines are a type of device that count, sort, and exchange coins for cash, such as bank deposits or exchanges. They are often found and used in: 

• Banks – coin machines can be found in banks to offer change services to clients needing to deposit bills.
• Credit Unions – functioning as banks, coin machines are placed in credit unions to provide convenient changing services to clients.
• Public Places – alternatives to coin machines are found in grocery stores, casinos, and supermarkets where shopping or spending happens to provide coin exchanges.

These machines have various methods of counting and sorting coins. Most machines use weighing, measuring, and sensors to detect each coin’s size and metal content. Some machines can also identify foreign or non-currency coins and reject them.

Using a coin machine is a simple process:

1. Start with cleaning your coins
2. Going to the nearest bank or location where a coin machine is available
3. Select the transaction you want to perform – either depositing or exchanging coins
4. Pour or feed your coins into the machine’s tray or slot
5. Wait for the machine to sort your coins and display your total
6. Receive a cash voucher, egift card, or have the amount deposited directly to your account

Pros and Cons of Coins Machine

There are several advantages to using a coin machine; they give banks and clients easier to exchange coins for cash. Here are some advantages of using a coin machine:

• Time-saving – Counting coins by hand can be time-consuming. Banks with coin machines can count and sort coins quickly, saving customers and staff valuable time.
• Accuracy – Coin machines are highly accurate and can count large amounts of coins without making mistakes. This ensures that customers receive the correct amount of money they deposited and helps banks maintain accurate records.
• Convenience – Coin machines are usually located in easily accessible bank areas near the teller stations or in the lobby. This makes it convenient for customers to deposit coins, receive cash, or deposit the funds directly into their accounts.
• Improved customer service – Using coin machines can improve customer service by reducing waiting times and providing a faster and more efficient way for customers to deposit coins and receive cash.
• Cost-effective – Coin machines can help banks save money by reducing the need for manual labor to count and sort coins. This can also free up staff time for other tasks, such as customer service or sales.
• Eco-friendly and charitable – Many coin machines are equipped with a feature that allows customers to donate their spare change to charity and promotes charitable giving. Donating can also reduce the number of coins in circulation, benefiting the environment.

While coin machines can be convenient for depositing or exchanging loose change, they also have some downsides. Here are a few:

• Fees – Some banks may charge fees for using their coin machines. This fee can vary depending on the bank and the amount of change being deposited or exchanged.

• Errors – Coin machines are machines. They are not perfect, and sometimes mistakes happen when counting coins. Especially when the machine is overstimulated or needs internal repairs, the machine tends to over or under-estimates the amount of change deposited.

• Time-consuming – coin machines take time to count loose change. Feeding each coin into the machine can be tedious, especially if you have many loose changes to deposit.
• Availability – It’s rare to find bank branches with coin machines, and even those that do may have them readily available or exist in some branches. This can make finding a convenient location to deposit or exchange your loose change difficult.

Overall, bank coin machines are helpful and convenient. They offer several advantages and benefit to both customers and banks; however, weighing the benefits against the potential downsides is essential before deciding whether or not to use them.

Where to Find Coin-Counting Machines

Coin machines can be found at various locations, including:

Banks

Most banks have coin machines for customers to use – sometimes for a fee. Examples of banks that have free coin machines are:

• JBT
• Manasquan Bank
• Home State Bank
• First County Bank
• Shelby Savings Bank
• Cape Bank
• Hancock Country Savings Bank
• Republic Bank (NJ/PA)
• Peoples United Bank
• American Eagle Federal Credit Union
• Westerra Credit Union
• Chase Bank
• Citibank
• Bank of America
• Capital One
• TD Bank
• PNC Bank
• Truist Bank

Supermarkets and Grocery Stores

Many supermarkets like Walmart, Safeway, Kroger, and IHOP have coin machines near the customer service desk. These machines are often free to use if you receive payment through a gift card or store credit.

Coin-counting Kiosks

Companies like Coinstar have coin-counting kiosks in grocery stores, retail locations, and other public places. These machines charge a fee for counting your coins but offer various payment options, such as:

• Cash
• Gift cards
• Charitable donations

Self-service Laundromats

You can make your trip to laundromats more productive. While waiting for your laundry, you can exchange your coins in the machine on their premises.

Post Offices

Some post offices have coin machines that can be used to purchase stamps or other postal products.

Casinos

Many casinos have coin machines for customers to convert their winnings or leftover coins into cash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I exchange coins for cash for free using coin machines?

Yes and no. You can exchange your coins for cash for free at certain banks and locations. However, not all coin machine locations offer their services for free.

What is the usual rate for using coin machines if you are a non-customer?

The usual rate for using coin machines is 10%-12% of your total coin value plus fees.

Can I still exchange coins for cash if a coin machine is unavailable?

Yes. Banks can still accept coins, but make sure you count them in advance and sort and roll them in coin wrappers before going to the bank.

What is the maximum amount you are allowed to exchange?

For Coinstar kiosks, they allow up to 2,000 USD per transaction.

Bottom Line

Coin machines are helpful when you need quick cash. They are easy to use and a great alternative if you can’t access your bank account. The best part is that they don’t charge fees, so you can keep your earnings. Coin machines are also safe and secure. However, if you plan on using coin machines as your source of cash to deposit, investing in an ATM card may be best to avoid coin machine fees.