So Can I Put Coins in an ATM? Here's What Chase Actually Does

Ever stood at a Chase ATM with a bag of coins wondering “can I put coins in an ATM?” Yeah, most of us have been there. Short answer: no, Chase ATMs don’t accept coins. But here’s the full story and what you can actually do about it.

The ATM Coin Problem Isn’t Just Chase

This isn’t a Chase thing specifically — it’s basically how all major banks roll now. ATMs are designed to handle paper bills and checks through imaging tech. Coins? That requires completely different hardware, precise counting systems, and honestly, they’re a maintenance nightmare (plus fraud risk). So teller windows handle coins, not machines.

What’s wild is that 10-15 years ago, most big banks had free coin-counting kiosks right in the branch. Bank of America, Citi, Chase — they all eliminated these over the past decade. Why? Operational costs and the whole fraud prevention thing. Now if you ask “can I put coins in an atm,” the real answer is: you need to go inside and talk to a teller.

What Chase Actually Accepts (And Doesn’t)

At the ATM: Bills and checks only. Done.

At the teller window: Bills, checks, AND coins — but here’s the catch: they want your coins rolled into those standard wrappers. Loose change? Most branches will straight-up refuse it or tell you to use a coin-counting kiosk elsewhere.

Chase’s official policy? Rolled coins for account holders, usually no fee. Non-customers? Branch-by-branch, so you’d need to call first. Business accounts dealing in serious coin volume? Different story — you’re looking at commercial cash services with fees and possible contracts.

The Rolled Coin Workaround That Actually Works

If you’ve got rolled coins, here’s the real process:

1. Sort by denomination — pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, etc.
2. Get the wrappers — ask at the branch; they usually give them free
3. Roll them properly — one wrapper per denomination, count accurately
4. Bring ID + account info — debit card or account number
5. Go to a teller (not an ATM) during business hours
6. Ask them to deposit it — they’ll verify and credit your account
7. Get a receipt — always verify the posted amount

For large amounts, definitely call the branch first. They might need a heads-up on staff availability.

What If Your Branch Won’t Take Them?

This happens. If “can I put coins in an ATM” leads to rejection, you’ve got options:

Supermarket coin kiosks — Fast, widely available, but they usually charge a percentage fee for cash (often 10-15%). Some have fee-free options if you take store credit or e-gift cards instead.

Credit unions and community banks — Legitimately better track record here. Many still run coin machines and offer free counting to members.

Do it yourself at home — Roll the coins, deposit at teller. Takes time but it’s free.

Third-party services — Some areas have standalone coin exchange spots, but fees vary.

The Real Situation as of 2024

Major banks nationwide — Chase, Bank of America, Citi — have basically eliminated free self-service coin counting. Consumer finance outlets consistently report this same trend. The consensus? Pre-roll your coins or expect to use a third-party service.

The bottom line: can I put coins in an ATM at Chase? No. But can you deposit rolled coins with a teller? Yes, usually for free if you’re an account holder. Call your specific branch to confirm their exact policy before showing up with a bag of coins — saves you a wasted trip.

The fastest move? Roll them, call ahead, visit the teller. Done.