04 Jan A bank refused to give me rolls of quarters. Can they do that?

Q. I went into a local bank to get a couple of rolls of quarters. The teller told me she could not do a “currency exchange” unless I had an account there. A currency exchange? Seriously? I just wanted some quarters. And this is how they hope to gain customers? Can they do that?
— Annoyed

A. They can do it.

You’re correct that it’s not a very consumer-friendly policy.

In general, most banks will provide change to customers regardless of whether or not they have an account with that bank, said Bill Connington of Connington Wealth Management in Paramus.

However, he said, some banks only make change for account holders.

“If you don’t have an account with the nearest bank, call ahead and ask about their change policy to avoid wasting a trip,” he said. “If you do go to a bank that only makes change for account holders, they might be nice and make a one-time exception for you.”

That didn’t happen on your trip. It could be worth — if you try again next time — to ask to speak to a manager.

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This story was originally published in January 2024.

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