FedCash® Services Currency Depositing and Ordering
U.S. Currency Production Updates
Latest Production Update from the United States Currency Program
Nonsequential Serial Numbers on U.S. Currency Straps
In 2023, the United States Currency Program (USCP) began a multiyear process of modernizing its banknote production equipment. Notes produced on the modernized equipment will result in nonconsecutive sequencing of serial numbers on all new straps of U.S. currency. During this transition period, production will be phased in by denomination. Until all denominations have phased to the new printing process, both sequential and nonsequential straps may appear in orders of U.S. currency.
New Straps Produced with Traditional Equipment
New straps produced with traditional production equipment contain 100 banknotes where the serial number on the first banknote ends with “01,” and the serial number on the last banknote ends in “00.” The USCP’s traditional banknote production equipment will continue to issue star notes to replace sequential serial numbers on imperfect notes in a strap of Federal Reserve notes.
New Straps Produced with Modern Equipment
As of October 2025, the USCP is producing the following denominations on its new equipment. Nonsequential straps of the denominations listed below will be available based on local inventories and distribution schedules.
| Denomination | Announcement Date | Production Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| $2 | September 2025 | October 2025 |
| $20 | May 2025 | June 2025 |
| $1 | May 2023 | May 2023 |
In straps produced with the new printing process, serial number patterns may contain gaps and will no longer be in consecutive sequence. The first Federal Reserve note in a non-sequential strap is not expected to have a serial number ending in “01.” Similarly, the last Federal Reserve note in a nonsequential strap is not expected to have a serial number ending in “00.” The new printing equipment will no longer produce star notes.
Further Information
All Federal Reserve notes, including star notes, will remain legal tender and worth face value regardless of when they were issued. Should you have any questions about this update, please contact uscurrency@frb.gov.
Deposit Process and Standards
Federal Reserve Banks accept only genuine U.S. currency for deposit. Deposits of the following are NOT accepted at the Federal Reserve Banks:
- Foreign currency
- Mutilated currency
- Counterfeit or unlawfully altered currency
Organizations should forward counterfeit or unlawfully altered currency directly to their local U.S. Secret Service office (Off-site). If the Federal Reserve Banks detect counterfeit or unlawfully altered currency in an organization’s deposit, it is forwarded to the Secret Service, and the organization is charged for the difference.
Employees preparing currency for deposit with the Federal Reserve Banks should reference the following Deposit Quality Standards periodically to ensure your organization is following the proper procedures.
Currency Deposit Quality Standards:
- Use only clear plastic bags or clear plastic or metal containers that bear your organization's identification (logo and/or name).
- Bags/containers must be securely sealed. Bag seals must be tamper-evident.
- Bundle the currency by denomination in ten equal straps (100 notes in each strap). A full bag may not contain more than 16 bundles.
- $1 through $20 denominations must be deposited in full bundles.
- $50 and $100 denominations may be deposited in full straps or full bundles.
- For all denominations, bands must be arranged within the bundle so that all of your stamps within the bundle are facing in one direction. For $50 and $100 denominations your stamp must be placed on the back outside of the band.
- Bands must be color-coded along the edges according to ABA standards.
- Banding material must be between 1.00 and 1.57 inches wide, with an approximate weight of 100g/sqm, and made of paper (not synthetic materials).
- Each band must be stamped with your organization's name and ABA routing number, the four-digit endpoint number of the depositing office, dollar amount in the strap, initials or names of the persons who verified the strap and date of validation.
- Remove any pins, clips, staples or rubber bands.
- Your servicing Reserve Bank requires you to include a deposit document, or ticket, with you deposit or provide an electronic notification. Consult your local FedCash Services contact for details.
For details about currency depositing procedures, please refer to the Cash Services Manual of Procedures. To view examples of correct and incorrect deposit procedures, please refer to the Deposit Visual Reference Guide.
Cross-shipping
In accordance with the Federal Reserve’s Recirculation Policy, organizations should carefully review their deposit and order practices to avoid cross-shipping or, in cases where cross-shipping is necessary, plan for payment of a Recirculation Fee.
A cross-shipping fee is charged to organizations that deposit fit $10 or $20 notes at a Federal Reserve Bank and then order the same denomination, above a de minimis amount, during the same business week within a Federal Reserve Bank Zone or Sub-zone.
Please refer to the Currency Recirculation Policy for details.
Frequency of Service
For each 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.
We 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 organization 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.
Deposit Notification Access Levels for Depository Institutions and Armored Carriers for Atlanta, Minneapolis, Kansas City and San Francisco
Two optional FedLine® access levels, the Deposit Notification (DN) Only for Depository Institutions (DI) access level; and the DN Only for Armored Carriers (AC) access level, are available to FedCash customers who submit deposits in the following Districts: Atlanta, Minneapolis, Kansas City and San Francisco.
These optional access levels allow organizations to limit a Subscriber’s access to only depositing functionality. For example, a Subscriber with one of these access levels can enter deposit notifications and view deposit reports for specific endpoints to which they have been granted access by a Subscriber at the organization with the Administrator access level. Below is a description for each access level and the process for signing up to use these access levels.
DN Only for DI Access Level
The DN Only for DI access level allows a DI to restrict its Subscribers’ access to depositing functionality only for certain endpoints. Access to each endpoint must be approved by a Subscriber with the Administrator access level for the endpoint. The access level restricts an employee who enters deposit notifications from also entering orders. This access level also provides an organization with additional flexibility in assigning access to staff members based on their responsibilities. For example, if a Subscriber has the responsibility to enter orders and deposits for the DI, the DI can request the existing “User” access level for the Subscriber. If a Subscriber’s responsibility is limited to entering deposit notifications, the DI can request the DN Only for DI access level for the Subscriber.
Sign-up for a DN Only for DI Access Level
- To use the DN Only for DI access level, organizations must have an Official Authorization List (OAL) on file with the Federal Reserve Banks and have access to the FedLine Web® Solution.
- To set up Subscribers for the DN Only for DI access level, please submit a Subscriber request via the EUAC Center within FedLine Home.
- DIs must also have at least one Subscriber with the FedCash Administrator access level who has access to necessary endpoints. To set up Subscribers for the Administrator access level, please submit a Subscriber request via the EUAC Center within FedLine Home.
DN Only for AC Access Level
The DN Only for AC access level allows a Subscriber at an armored carrier, with a DI’s consent 1, to submit deposit notifications on behalf of the DI. With this access level, the armored carrier can enter deposits and view deposit reports for specific DI endpoints, but an armored carrier’s Subscriber cannot enter orders for the DI’s endpoints. In addition, a Subscriber at the DI can view reports of deposits that the armored carrier entered on its behalf.
Sign-up for a DN Only for AC Access Level
If a DI would like an armored carrier to submit deposit notifications on its behalf, then the DI should work with its carrier(s) to sign-up for the access level using the following process.
ACs:
- To use the DN Only for ACs access level, the armored carrier must have a 9-digit Customer Identification Number (CIN) and an Official Authorization List (OAL) on file with the Federal Reserve Banks, as well as access to the FedLine Web Solution.
Note: If the AC does not have a CIN or OAL on file, please contact the following representatives for assistance.
For the CIN setup process, contact your local FedCash Services Contact for assistance. (Note: This process may take 5 – 7 business days.)
For the OAL setup process, contact the Federal Reserve’s San Francisco Accounting Department at (800) 309-6156. (Note: This process may take up to 30 business days.)
- The AC also needs to have a minimum of two defined End User Authorization Contact (EUAC) on file. If the AC does not have an EUAC, please complete, sign and submit the EUAC Designation and Authorization For Armored Carriers (PDF) form.
- To set up armored carrier Subscribers for the DN Only for AC access level, the armored carrier's EUAC will need to submit a Subscriber request via the EUAC Center within FedLine Home.
DIs:
- DIs must have at least one Subscriber with the FedCash “Administrator” access level for necessary endpoints. (To set up Subscribers for the Administrator access level, please submit a Subscriber request via the EUAC Center within FedLine Home.)
- Once an armored carrier Subscriber obtains the DN Only access level, the DI Administrator must approve endpoint access in order for the armored carrier Subscriber to begin entering deposits on the DI’s behalf.
Additional information
If you have questions about the sign up process, the EUAC form or submitting Subscriber requests via the EUAC Center, contact the Support Center.
If you have questions regarding the DN Only access levels, contact your local FedCash Services Contact.
The armored carrier’s access to each endpoint must be approved by a Subscriber at the DI with the Administrator access level for the endpoint.
Electronic Cash Deposit Difference Advices
Organizations that have a FedLine Web Solution connection with the Federal Reserve Banks can utilize this service to receive Electronic Cash Deposit Difference Advices via the Deposit Difference Reports with appropriate access.
Keep in mind, if your organization has multiple ABAs, the individuals retrieving the deposit differences will be able to view Electronic Cash Deposit Difference Advices for all ABAs legally owned by that financial institution.
For more information, view the Electronic Cash Deposit Difference Advices Frequently Asked Questions.
NOTE: The Federal Reserve will discontinue the delivery of Cash Difference Advices via FedMail® after October 31, 2025.
Accessing Electronic Cash Deposit Difference Advices via FedLine Web
Organizations that use the FedLine Web Solution will be able to view their Electronic Cash Deposit Difference Advices via the Deposit Difference Reports two business days following their posting to your accounting statement. Subscribers in your organization with the Read Only and/or Cross-shipping access levels are able to access Electronic Cash Deposit Difference Advices and associated strap images through the Deposit Difference Reports option in the FedCash Deposit drop-down menu in FedLine Home. Below are the steps required to access Electronic Cash Deposit Difference Advices via the FedLine Web Solution.
Actions Required by End User Authorization Contact (EUAC)
Step 1) Identify who should have access to Deposit Difference Reports
Identify individuals within your organization that should have access to Deposit Difference Reports.
To help ensure that the appropriate individuals in your organization have access to Deposit Difference Reports, Subscriber access may need to be added or modified. Since EUAC(s) have the ability to change Subscriber access for the ABAs in which they have the EUAC responsibility, we recommend that you coordinate access changes at the organization level, rather than the ABA level.
Armored Carrier Outsourced Vaults
If your cash operation is outsourced to an armored carrier, you will need to identify an individual within your organization to access this Deposit Difference Reports functionality, as the Read Only and Cross-shipping access levels cannot be assigned to armored carriers.
Step 2) Determine whether the appropriate individuals have the required access levels
Once you identified who should have access to your organization’s Deposit Difference Reports, you will need to determine whether those individuals already have one of the required access levels. To assist you in identifying FedCash Subscribers and their access levels, your organization’s EUAC(s) can access the Subscriber and Roles Report found in the EUAC Center. Using this report, you will be able to review current FedLine Subscribers with your ABA(s) to determine if additional individuals in your organization will require the Read Only or Cross-shipping access level(s). Additionally, you will need to evaluate whether the current Subscribers should retain those access levels, as they will have access to your organization’s deposit difference information.
If the individuals who should have access to the Deposit Difference Reports have one of the required access levels, no further action is necessary. If you identify that either additional individuals within your organization should have access to the Deposit Difference Reports or the individuals who currently have the access levels should not have access, proceed to Step 3 below.
Step 3) Add/Modify Subscriber roles as required
If you need to add Subscribers to access the Deposit Difference Reports, your organization’s EUAC(s) must submit a Subscriber request via the EUAC Center requesting either the Read Only or Cross-shipping access level. The Subscriber Access Level Descriptions for FedCash Services can help to determine the appropriate access level. If you determine existing Subscribers with the Read Only and/or Cross-shipping access levels should not be able to view your organization’s deposit difference information, your organization’s EUAC(s) must submit a Subscriber request via the EUAC Center requesting the removal of the Read Only and/or Cross-shipping access level(s).
Standard Depositing and Ordering Units
| Denomination | Standard Strap (100 Notes) Dollar Amount |
Standard Bundle (1,000 Notes/10 Straps) Dollar Amount |
Standard ABA Color Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ones | N/A | $1,000 | Blue |
| Twos | N/A | $2,000 | Green |
| Fives | N/A | $5,000 | Red |
| Tens | N/A | $10,000 | Yellow |
| Twenties | N/A | $20,000 | Violet |
| Fifties | $5,000 | $50,000 | Brown |
| Hundreds | $10,000 | $100,000 | Mustard |
Access to Currency and Depositing
Organizations may order currency via FedLine Web.
For more information about FedCash Services processing and operations, visit the FedCash pages or consult your local FedCash Services contact.
Notes
1The armored carrier’s access to each endpoint must be approved by a Subscriber at the DI with the Administrator access level for the endpoint.