FedCash^® Services Currency Depositing and Ordering

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 (PDF). 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 Federal Reserve Bank End User Authorization Contact (EUAC) Form for FedLine Web^® (PDF).
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 Customer Contact Center (CCC) at (888) 333-7010.

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 Difference Advices

Effective October 1, 2016, the Federal Reserve no longer mails Cash Difference Advices. Cash Difference Advices are now available electronically in an organized format with a large digital image, making them clear and easy to read.

Organizations that already have a FedLine Web^® Solution connection with the Federal Reserve Banks can utilize this service to receive Cash Difference Advices via the Deposit Difference Reports with appropriate access. The FedMail^® Service is ideal for organizations that do not have a FedLine Web connection.

Both options are available to all organizations. Keep in mind, with both options, if your organization has multiple ABAs settling through a master account, the individuals receiving electronic Cash Difference Advices will be able to view Cash Difference Advices for all ABAs settling in the master account.

Details regarding both options are outlined below. For more information, view the Electronic Cash Difference Advices Frequently Asked Questions.

FedLine Web Solution Option for Accessing Cash Difference Advices

Organizations that use the FedLine Web Solution will be able to view their electronic Cash 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 Cash 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 Cash 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).

FedMail Service Option for Receiving Cash Difference Advices

Organizations that choose to use the FedMail Service will receive their electronic Cash Difference Advices via the FedMail Service two business days following their posting to your accounting statement. Below are the steps required to access Cash Difference Advices via the FedMail Service.

Action required if you wish to receive your differences via the FedMail Service:

Step 1) Identify who should receive Cash Difference Advices via the FedMail Service

Identify individuals within your organization that should be receiving Cash Difference Advices via the FedMail Service.

Step 2) Complete the FedMail Request Form

Once you've identified who should receive your organization's Cash Difference Advices via the FedMail Service, you will need to complete and submit the FedMail^® Request Form" (PDF).

Standard Depositing and Ordering Units

Standard units for depositing and ordering.
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.

Top of Page

FedCash® Services Currency Depositing and Ordering