For years, the FED has offered "new" currency around the holidays; crispy bills for Grandmas to put in money envelopes.

This year our bank (and I've confirmed with another bank in the area) that the FED isn't offering this.

Not a life changing event, but for those that offer this service, you might want to double check.

And, I wonder why? Shortage of new money?

Very likely connected to the government keeping employees home due to COVID. I certainly don't consider the minting of new money an essential service if their is adequate supply in circulation.

If Granny wants to send me a worn out $100 or just write a check, I'm okay with that.

Fed provided an explanation around this several weeks back - they have been putting new currency in the market since COVID started, for at least 2 months all they were sending was new currency, no fit currency was being provided from any FRB location. subsequently, they have had periods where they again, by FRB branch, have moved back to new currency only. so, you should have ample new currency with which to provide to grandma. reach out to your local FRB office to see what they are doing currently, new or fit.

at the same time, tell them you want to subscribe to their newsletters which provide details around issues such as this.

I’ll take an old wrinkly $100 over a new crisp $20 any day! 🤪

Orig anon here: Thank you Happy.

Grandma does not Venmo it?

Most likely CashApp.

"Grandma does not Venmo it?"

She can't, she got ran over by a reindeer, remember?