FedCash® Services Currency Depositing and Ordering

Deposit Process and Standards

The Federal Reserve Banks accept for deposit only genuine U.S. currency. The Federal Reserve Banks do not accept foreign or mutilated currency. Institutions should forward counterfeit or unlawfully altered currency directly to the local U.S. Secret Service office. If the Federal Reserve Banks detect counterfeit or unlawfully altered currency in a institution’s deposit, we forward it to the Secret Service and charge the institution's account for the difference.

Both new and experienced employees who prepare currency for deposit to the Federal Reserve Banks should reference these Deposit Quality Standards periodically to ensure your institution is following the proper procedures. Following are the currency Deposit Quality Standards:

  • Complete a deposit notification (this applies to FedLine Web® and FedPhone®)
  • Include only a single denomination in each strap
  • Do not use rubber bands or paper clips, currency should be prepared with straps
  • Prepare full straps for each denomination (100 notes in each strap)
  • Prepare bundles containing ten (10) straps of a denomination
  • Include your financial institution identification and routing number on each strap
  • Ensure you have included proper identification on all incoming bags and containers, including institution ID and routing number
  • Use only clear plastic bags or containers
  • Verify that each bag is securely closed and sized appropriately
  • Include a completed deposit ticket with shipment
  • Ensure each currency bag weighs less than 50 pounds

Review examples of correct and incorrect deposits.

Cross-shipping

A revised Recirculation Policy is now in effect. Please refer to the Currency Recirculation Policy. Please note as of July 2007, a cross-shipping fee is charged to institutions that deposit fit $10 or $20 notes at a Reserve Bank and order the same denomination, above a de minimis amount, during the same business week within a Federal Reserve Bank Zone or Sub-zone.

Frequency of Service

Per endpoint, normal cash service is one deposit and one order of currency per week. The Federal Reserve Bank recognizes that factors such as volume and cost may require less frequent service to some endpoints and more frequent service to others. The Federal Reserve Bank may, at our discretion, reduce cash orders to maintain currency inventories. The Federal Reserve Bank may refuse deposits, defer or reverse credit and/or return deposits if a Depository Institution fails to comply with any of the terms of Operating Circular 2. Returns are at the Depository Institution's risk and expense. Please refer to the Uniform Cash Access Policy (UCAP) (PDF) for additional information.

Standard Depositing and Ordering Units

Standard units for depositing and ordering are based on the institution's volume, either Class 1 or Class 2:

Denomination Class 1
Unit Dollar Value for Institutions Ordering OVER $50,000 Weekly		 Class 2
Unit Dollar Value for Institutions Ordering UNDER $50,000 Weekly
One $1,000 $1,000
Two $2,000 $200
Five $5,000 $500
Ten $10,000 $1,000
Twenty $20,000 $2,000
Fifty $5,000 $5,000
Hundred $10,000 $10,000

Access to Coin Ordering and Depositing

Institutions may order cash via FedLine® Web, or via FedPhone®.

For more information about FedCash Services processing and operations, visit the service offerings pages or consult your local FedCash Services contact.

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