 From Seashells to Bytes Electronic Payments: The Wave of the Future, Here Today Check Use Slowing but Still Important Cash Is Still Popular Consumers' Corner |
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In the United Sates, cash use grew through the early part of the 1990s, but it appears that some cash payments have been replaced by debit cards and other electronic payments.
Cash affords privacy, unlike checks or electronic transactions, which include information about the purchaser. Cash is convenient and widely accepted. The dollar amount of U.S. currency in circulation worldwide has increased almost 88 percent since the mid-1990s. Today two-thirds of all U.S. currency circulates outside the United States.
Federal Reserve: The bankers' bank for cash services
Just as individuals keep money in a bank account, many commercial banks, credit unions, and savings and loan associations put cash in accounts at the nearest Federal Reserve Bank. When financial institutions have more cash than they need to serve their customers, they deposit their excess cash at a Reserve Bank.
When the currency arrives at a Reserve Bank from a financial institution, machines count it, process it to ensure quality, and shred worn-out bills. Cash handling machines also check currency for possible counterfeits, and a Fed employee determines their authenticity. Counterfeit bills are sent to the U.S. Secret Service for investigation.
When banks need cash, they order it from the Fed and have it delivered by armored cars. This currency is either newly minted notes that Reserve Banks receive from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing or previously circulated notes sent back in to the Fed and processed.
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The Fed closely monitors currency to ensure the accounts of the different institutions are accurate. The accounting is handled electronically through secure online connections.
Learn more facts and history about money.
