Getting Cash for Coins: A Complete Guide to Converting Your Change

The average American household has accumulated thousands of pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters sitting idle in drawers, jars, and piggy banks. According to the U.S. Coin Task Force, there’s approximately $48.5 billion worth of coins languishing in U.S. homes—a phenomenon that intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to disrupt normal coin circulation patterns in the economy today. If you’re wondering where you can get cash for coins and turn that spare change into usable currency, you have several practical options worth exploring.

Converting Your Coins at Financial Institutions

The most straightforward approach is visiting your bank or credit union. Major institutions like Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank, and U.S. Bank all provide coin conversion services. However, the specific process varies by location. Steve Kenneally, senior vice president of payments at the American Bankers Association, recommends contacting your branch beforehand to understand their exact procedures. Some branches prefer rolled coins, others operate automated coin-sorting machines, or they may direct you to a regional processing center.

It’s worth noting that if you’re not a customer at a particular financial institution, you may encounter service fees. Still, many banks will accommodate noncustomers, making this a viable option even if you need to travel slightly to reach a participating branch.

Using Coinstar Kiosks for Quick Conversion

With more than 20,000 Coinstar machines operating worldwide, finding a nearby kiosk is often convenient. These automated machines offer multiple conversion pathways for your change. Beyond exchanging coins for paper cash, you can opt for e-gift cards without any processing fees—choosing from over 20 retailers including Amazon, Apple, and DoorDash. Customers can also convert their coins into cryptocurrency through these terminals.

The primary drawback is the processing fee structure: converting to cash incurs an 11.9% charge, though this expense disappears if you select the e-gift card option instead. This fee differential means you should consider your preferred redemption method before using the machine.

Local Retailers and Alternative Venues

Certain regional businesses have established their own coin-conversion services. During the nationwide coin shortage, convenience chains like QuikTrip actively accepted customer change, while Publix grocery stores in Florida continue offering dedicated coin-cashing services—though some locations may apply modest fees.

Scouting your local area for similar retailer programs can yield hidden opportunities to get cash for coins with minimal hassle or fees.

Spending Coins Directly

Rather than converting your change, you could simply spend coins at checkout. This approach works smoothly for small quantities, particularly when you can provide exact change. However, attempting to pay large totals in coin form may create bottlenecks at the register, as staff need time to count and process the transaction. Retailers aren’t legally obligated to accept coins, and many may decline large quantities due to operational constraints.

The Shift Toward Digital Payments

To prevent future coin accumulation, consider transitioning away from cash transactions entirely. Using debit cards, credit cards, or digital wallets at checkout eliminates coins from your change. For peer-to-peer money transfer needs, applications like Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App provide seamless alternatives that bypass cash altogether.

The Federal Reserve actively encourages citizens to reintroduce dormant coins into circulation by utilizing these conversion and banking services, helping stabilize the nation’s coin supply while giving your loose change renewed purpose.