Want to get cash for coins? I can help.
One way my family saves money is by saving coins. Every time we pay cash and get change back, the coins go into a jar.
We don’t miss them, and in fact, it’s nice not to have to walk around with that heavy change in our purses and pockets.
However, once the jars are full, it is time to cash them in. You can’t head to the airline counter with a jar full of coins.
You need to find a place to cash them in. I like to call it an exchange. My coins for dollar bills please.
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Where to Get Cash for Coins For Free
Here are our top places to get those coins turned into cash
1. Bank of America
Bank of America accepts rolled coins. If you have the patience to stick your loose change into rolls, then this is a good option for Bank of America customers.
For those who already have an account, the bank will simply deposit the rolls into your savings account. If you don’t have an account with Bank of America, they won’t be able to help you.
2. Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo is an option for both customers and non-customers. In either case, you’ll need to roll your coins before the bank will accept them.
Personally, I’ve used Wells Fargo to exchange coins for dollar bills. I brought a jar of coins to the bank, and the teller provided me with rolls at the counter. She also let me borrow a coin-counting tray that expedited the process.
Whether or not your are a customer, Wells Fargo is an option if you are willing to roll your coins.
3. US Bank
US Bank offers coin exchange services for customers.
As a customer, you can bring your coins to the bank without rolls. The banker will deposit the coins into your account. From there, you can pull out cash funds if you’d like to or leave them in there for a rainy day.
It’s convenient to skip the tedious coin-rolling process. But only US Bank customers will find this option available.
4. Citibank
Citibank accepts rolled coins as deposits from account holders. Although you’ll need to roll your coins ahead of time, the bank will place them directly into your account.
Unfortunately, non-customers are out of luck at Citibank. Without an account, you won’t be able to exchange coins for cash at a Citibank location.
5. Credit Unions
Many credit unions have coin counting machines. You typically have to be a member to have coins counted for free. Non-members usually have to pay a fee.
If you aren’t sure what the credit unions in your area offer, make some calls around town. The receptionist should be able to let you know if a coin machine is available. Plus, they can explain if there are any fees involved.
One bonus with having a local credit union that will convert the coins is you can add the money directly to your account where it can earn interest. Money in the jar only earns dust.
6. QuikTrip
QuikTrip gas stations and convenience stores have over 800 locations in the Southeastern, Midwestern, and Southern U.S.
According to this article, you can turn your coins into any QuikTrip location and get cash.
The article says that if your local store doesn’t have enough cash to cash out your coins, they’ll give you the remaining balance in the form of the QuikTrip gift card.
QuikTrip isn’t charging a fee for this service.
Coin Counting Machines
Retailers sometimes have coin counting machines that let you exchange coins for cash. You pour your coins into the machine and it will count them.
Note that it will spit out any coins it can’t identify. This could include foreign coins, damaged coins and non-coins.
If the machine spits out a real coin, put it in again. Sometimes you can get it to register by doing that.
Know that this service isn’t free. One popular coin counting machine is run by Coinstar. Coinstar has coin counting machines in stores everywhere.
What is Coinstar’s Fee?
Coinstar charges 11.9% to turn your coins into cash. You can read about how to get around that toward the bottom of this article.
Check the Coinstar website for kiosks near you. Here is a list of stores that might house coin counting machines.
7. Walmart
Walmart has over 11,000 stores worldwide. If you live in the U.S. there’s likely a Walmart near you.
Almost all of the Walmarts in my area have Coinstar machines. Walmart seems to be the largest Coinstar host store, at least in my area.
Relevant article: 10 Best Places to Get Quarters
8. Kroger
Kroger has more than 2,700 grocery stores in 35 states in the U.S. Many Kroger stores have Coinstar kiosks. Check your local store for more information.
9. CVS
CVS Pharmacy has over 9,000 stores in the U.S. It has stores in every state except Wyoming. Check your local CVS to see if it has a Coinstar kiosk.
10. ShopRite
There are more than 300 ShopRite grocery stores on the East Coast. You can find them in several states, including:
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- New York
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- Maryland
Check your local ShopRite to see if they have a kiosk.
11. Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee has over 200 grocery stores in the Midwest. Some states include Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska. Your local Hy-Vee may have a Coinstar kiosk.
12. Meijer
There are more than 200 Meijer retail stores in the Midwest. They’re located in the following states:
- Michigan
- Indiana
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Wisconsin
- Ohio
Visit your local Meijer store for a Coinstar kiosk. Not all locations carry kiosks.
13. Albertsons
Albertsons has over 2,000 locations throughout the U.S. Some states include Texas, New Mexico and Illinois.
Your local Albertsons store may have a Coinstar kiosk.
14. Harris Teeter
Harris Teeter has more than 200 supermarkets in seven U.S. states. They’re located in:
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Virginia
- Georgia
- Florida
- Delaware
- Maryland
There are Harris Teeters in Washington, D.C., too. Your local Harris Teeter may have a Coinstar kiosk.
15. Hannaford
Hannaford has nearly 200 stores in New England and New York. Note that not all locations have Coinstar kiosks.
16. Cash Wise
Cash Wise foods stores are located in Minnesota and North Dakota. There are dozens of stores. Check your local Cash Wise store to see if they house Coinstar.
17. Target
There are more than 1,800 Target stores in the U.S. Not all Targets have Coinstar kiosks. In my major city, I couldn’t find a machine at a Target.
Check your local Target store to see if it has one.
18. Kmart
Kmart stores are dwindling in number. However, there are still over 40 in the U.S. You might find a Coinstar machine at your local Kmart.
19. Lowe’s
Lowe’s is a home improvement chain with more than 2,000 stores in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Some stores may carry Coinstar kiosks.
Again, not all store locations have machines. As I mentioned, most of the Walmarts in my area have them. However, very few Targets have them.
You can find a kiosk location by going to the Coinstar website. Or you can ask at a store near you.
20. Winco
Winco is a grocery store with locations in Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington. Across these states, the company operates around 135 locations.
While not all of the stores have a coin machine, Winco offers Coinstar kiosks in some store locations. If your local Winco has a kiosk, it’s as easy as putting your coins through the machine to collect bills or an e-gift card.
Coinstar Fees
As I mentioned before, Coinstar charges a whopping 11.9% fee if you want cash for your coins. So, if you have $100 in coins you’ll get charged $11.90.
I know, that’s a LOT of money. I’m not a big fan of paying fees. You’re likely not either.
However, there are a few options for avoiding the fee. Check out these choices.
Get an e-Gift Card for Free
Coinstar does have an option where you can get an e-gift card instead of actual cash for your coins.
You won’t pay a fee if you get an e-gift card. Coinstar has several e-gift card options. They all come with minimum and maximum dollar amounts.
Gift Card Options
| Company | Gift Card Amounts |
| Amazon | $5 to $1,000 |
| Applebee’s | $5 to $500 |
| Best Buy | $5 to $500 |
| Gamestop | $15 to $500 |
| Home Depot | $10 to $500 |
| iTunes | $5 to $500 |
| Southwest Airlines | $25 to $500 |
| Starbucks | $5 to $500 |
Note that the retailers and amounts are subject to change. However, if you’re looking to avoid the Coinstar fee, this could help.
Give the Money to Charity
Coinstar will waive the coin counting fee if you donate the money to charity through them. Their list of available charities is small. However, they are all good choices.
- Unicef
- United Way
- American Red Cross
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
- World Wildlife Foundation
- Feeding America
- Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
There’s something for everyone on the charity list. If you want to give your coins to a good cause, you can go this route.
How To Roll Coins
Rolling your coins can be a great way to organize loose change and make it easier to deposit or exchange for cash. Whether you have a collection of pennies, nickels, dimes, or quarters, the process is relatively simple and can be done in just a few steps.
Before getting ready to wrap your coins, first you will need some coin wrappers. They can be purchased at Dollar Tree, Staples, Walmart and Amazon. Next, organize your coins by value.
Once you have sorted the coins, it is time to start rolling. Begin by placing a stack of coins at one end of a coin wrapper. Make sure the coins are lined up neatly and are all facing in the same direction.
Then, fold the wrapper over the coins and press down firmly on the edges to create a tight seal.
Continue rolling the wrapper until all the coins are inside.
Finally, label the wrapper with the type of coin and the total amount inside. This will help you keep track of your rolled coins and make it easier to exchange them for cash.
Frequently Asked Questions
Summary
I’ve found saving coins is a great way to save money. You don’t miss them when you throw them into the jar. They almost don’t seem like real cash.
Sometimes we’ll throw dollar bills into our coin jar, too. They really add up over time. You can save several hundred dollars a year this way.
Using your own bank is the cheapest way to get cash for coins. However, if that’s not an option you have Coinstar.
You may pay a fee with Coinstar, but at least you’ll get cash.
