Coins - w/o a local bank?

[Rosehip]

I bank by mail (USAA), so don't have a local bank. I save my change for my kids' college fund. At some point, I'd like to roll it & get the money to put in their accounts...but how? Coinstar takes such a big chunk! I thought Commerce (now TD??) used to let anyone bring coins in, but I can't find it on their website. What else can one do? Also, where do I get rolls? From any bank? I used to have scads of them, but seem to have misplaced them in my latest move.

Thanks!

[zebra15]

I have USAA too and what you can do is take the 'long route'. Go to coinstar and cash in the coins for a 'giftcard', personally I love the amazon.com giftcodes. Then whatever you get the giftcard for allot that amount to the USAA account. The coinstars around here have several giftcard options which are fee free.

[sunnysandiegan]

When you do find a bank or credit union that will let you exchange coins for cash, most of them don't want rolls anymore. We had to dump all the coins into a machine in the lobby after entering the account number into said machine. There are no fees to use this machine, but you have to have an account there. Also, you cannot go to a teller with coins. We had to do the paper bills at the teller line and then the coins at the machine. Common around here, from what I hear.

Does USAA have a coop where they let you make deposits with other financial institutions or other places?

We no longer save coins like that. We let DD save small amounts of coins ($2-5) and then we trade them for bills for her. We spend the coins as if they were bills. She makes cash deposits twice a year into her account (birthday and Christmas) at a local branch of our nationwide credit union.

[zebra15]

Originally Posted by sunnysandiegan

When you do find a bank or credit union that will let you exchange coins for cash, most of them don't want rolls anymore. We had to dump all the coins into a machine in the lobby after entering the account number into said machine. There are no fees to use this machine, but you have to have an account there. Also, you cannot go to a teller with coins. We had to do the paper bills at the teller line and then the coins at the machine. Common around here, from what I hear.

Does USAA have a coop where they let you make deposits with other financial institutions or other places?

We no longer save coins like that. We let DD save small amounts of coins ($2-5) and then we trade them for bills for her. We spend the coins as if they were bills. She makes cash deposits twice a year into her account (birthday and Christmas) at a local branch of our nationwide credit union.

USAA is a totally online electronic bank. They do not have branches and are not affiliated with any other institution. Coinstar is her best bet, to get a gift card for something she needs then to transfer the $$ from her account the kids savings. USAA is great, except when you have coins LOL.

OP the other option is a real pain but you could go purchase a money order with the coins (ya right, i know ) and mail the money order into USAA for credit on the account. Nothing like buying a money order with 600 pennies, 400 nickles, 700 dimes, and 85 quarters huh?

[fioner]

Maybe you have a friend or family member with a "real" bank who would do it for you? And you can buy coin rolls at Staples. The last time I rolled coins and took them to my Bank of America branch they were fine with the rolls. They didn't have the machine like the pp was talking about.

[moobiegirl]

TD Bank has free coin counting. I just looked it up the other week. It's called Penny Arcade. I found a branch by searching for a location. If it has the Penny Arcade it will show it on the branch info when you search for a bank near you. Good luck.

[Kyamo]

You could try paying with rolls at a store too. I used to work at a store that accepted them. Stores always need rolls of coins because they give out so much change. They may not accept it, but the worst they can say is no. Use the clear coin rollers to increase the chance they will accept it (because you can see into them and make sure there aren't pennies mixed in a dime roll, or whatever).

[HappilyEvrAfter]

Originally Posted by zebra15

They do not have branches and are not affiliated with any other institution.

Did you know they are actually opening a test "branch" bank????

Granted, it's still in San Antonio, but they're doing a test to see if it gets any business. It's like an abbreviated branch bank.

Doesn't realy help much if you're not in SA anyhow and it might just be because of their high military/retiree population, but I just thought that it was really interesting that a bank who's been electronic for so long would try gong this way.

Sorry, OP, I don't have any constructive advice....I do the same thing zebra15 does.

[lolar2]

I have a savings account at a local credit union. I don't keep much in it but they take my coins.

Also if you have a credit card from a different bank, maybe they might take your coins?

[dizzysmom]

Originally Posted by sunnysandiegan

When you do find a bank or credit union that will let you exchange coins for cash, most of them don't want rolls anymore.

I work at a small bank, and we will not accept coin in rolls from customers. We are required to open the rolls to count the coins in the machine. So I wouldn't waste either the time or money necessary to roll them.

[dachshundqueen]

Some grocery stores will take them via their customer service department (where they do returns/the manager hangs out) or pay for things with them. I used to pay tolls on the highway through the cashier lane that way.

Liz

[Auntie Sapphire]

Even my credit union charges a 3% fee to use the coin counting machine. All my coins go into Coinstar for an Amazon gift certificate code.

[Delicateflower]

Use it at a self scan for groceries and then put the equivalent amount in the account for the kids.

[Carson]

I was going to suggest coinstar using the grocery store GC, then sending that groc money to a brightstar type account.

[2xy]

Our bank takes rolled coins. I buy the rolls at Staples. We roll our quarters, then Coinstar the rest. I guess if/when our bank stops taking rolled coins, we'll Coinstar all of it.

I have also used USAA in the past, and really like them. I still have insurance and a credit card through them, but don't bank with them anymore because almost all of my pay is in cash and nearly half of DH's pay is in cash (restaurant industry).

[LaLaLaLa]

My local Bank of America takes rolls of coins; I go in once a month or so to cash in a few rolls of change. They also give me new coin wraps when I ask for them, and it has all been free.

I've never had to put in an account number or anything, but I don't know if they just recognize me because I've been in there a handful of times, or if they would be fine with anyone off the street cashing in coins.

[MaddieMay]

We also primarily bank with USAA. I do a couple things with coins:

Coinstar/Amazon gift cards

Use the self-checkout (for small purchases) and start putting in coins.

Give them to charity-when the kids are trick or treating and raising money for this or that, I give them some of the change.

Use them for tolls.

Great for garage sale shopping!

I really try to only keep a small bag of coins, that way it stays manageable.