Breaking $100 banknotes into smaller denominations while in the US

I will be travelling to the US and have some (clarification: 7 or 8) 100 USD banknotes. When I arrive there, I would like to change them into 5/10/20 USD banknotes, to use when credit cards are impractical (probably mostly tips or small purchases).

Is it acceptable / customary / expected / normal to walk into a random bank office and ask for such change? Is there a fee for the change?

Any other options?

usa money

Best Answer

If you're staying at a hotel, you could ask at the front desk. Cash is still common enough in the USA that I would expect that most hotels would have enough cash on hand to accommodate you.

While I would be surprised if a "nice" hotel were unable to do this, I should say that I have never actually tried it myself.

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Can u break a 100 dollar bill?

Your local grocery store Since some cashiers may not have enough change in their drawer, especially at the beginning of a shift, check with the customer service counter or a manager. They may be able to break your $100 bill without you having to make a purchase.

Where can I change large bills for small ones?

Several options:

Banks - ask in the branches near to you if any of them would do that. ...
Check cashing places - they're everywhere, and they carry large denomination bills. ...
Money orders - if you don't want to give a personal check, buy a money order at the post office, and dump the cash on them.

What can you do with a broken 100 dollar bill?

If you have ripped or otherwise damaged 100 dollar bills, you can redeem them by yourself through your local bank or the Mutilated Currency Division at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP).

Can u still use a 100 dollar bill if it was ripped in the middle?

You can use your cash as is if a corner is missing. If it's ripped into two pieces, tape them back together and take the bill to a bank, where they will make sure the serial numbers on both sides of the note match and give you a new one.

Learning Money /Coin Song / Money Song

More answers regarding breaking $100 banknotes into smaller denominations while in the US

Answer 2

It is common for retailers to provide change (we call this "breaking a bill".) Almost any major chain retailer will break a $100 for a small transaction. You may get attitude though because places like Wal-Mart may have to get extra manager approval to accept the bill or test it using a chemical ink to ensure it is not counterfeit but they will usually do it anyway after hassling you. A smaller business like a gas/petrol station may entirely refuse to accept the bill. Breaking a $100 bill is almost always possible but almost always a hassle.

Since you're asking this, you may also be interested in knowing:

Getting/using coins is not always easy but may be necessary. Many coin operated machines in the US accept quarters only. If you find yourself needing quarters ($0.25) you can usually get them in laundromats from a change machine in exchange for $1 or $5 bills. I run into this all the time when trying to pay for parking. Also, retailers have the right to refuse to accept payment in "burdensome" quantities of small coins. No, you should not pay for a cheeseburger with 600 pennies. In fact, many places will only accept coins if you are paying in exact change. People hate pennies. They are damaging our economy, it costs 2.5 cents to make a 1 cent penny. We only manufacture them still because of Zinc lobbyists and Lincoln fans.

Apple/Google Pay are quickly becoming widely accepted as forms of payment but you should always ask before accepting a service.

In the US, you will often be offered services before you pay. This confuses many tourist who end up getting in trouble once they have consumed a product or service not realizing their method of payment will not be accepted. An example is ordering street food without realizing they are expecting cash only. You probably won't get into any serious trouble but you'll likely get harassed or belittled.

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