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Keeping Small Change Working in Our Community

Why Pennies Still Matter

While ending penny production may make economic sense, reduced penny circulation is creating real challenges for small businesses. Keeping existing coins moving matters more than most people realize.

The Bigger Issue Isn’t Production — It’s Circulation

There are billions of pennies already in existence. The real concern is that pennies are circulating less through the banking system, accelerating their disappearance from everyday commerce.

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Why Coin Circulation Matters

A Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond economic brief explains how reduced coin circulation affects cash transactions, pricing, and small businesses—highlighting why circulation matters as much as production.

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Keeping small change working in our community — and supporting local reinvestment.

Why we’re doing this

Penny production may be ending — but the bigger issue is penny recirculation.
Even with billions of pennies already in existence, when coins circulate less through the banking system,
they can disappear from day-to-day commerce much faster than people expect.

Many small businesses still rely on pennies for cash transactions. We believe our community deserves a
practical, deliberate transition — not an abrupt disruption.

Our goal: Keep existing pennies circulating locally and support our community at the same time.

  • Small businesses can face rounding challenges when pennies are scarce.
  • Cash transactions become more difficult when coin supply tightens.
  • Local commerce absorbs the disruption — especially for cash-heavy, low-margin businesses.

This initiative helps keep small change available and useful while our community adjusts.

How you can help

Most households have spare change sitting idle — jars, drawers, cup holders. Bringing that change in helps
put coins back into circulation and supports local reinvestment.

Please note: To support efficient branch service, we ask that coins be rolled when brought in.

Community reinvestment

When you deposit your spare change at ASCU, those dollars support the community reinvestments we are proud to make,
including:

  • Youth sponsorships and school support
  • Civic and community events
  • Local partnerships and community resources
  • Programs that strengthen Southern Arizona communities
Simple impact loop: Members bring change → coins circulate locally → ASCU reinvests locally.

How to participate

  1. Roll your coins at home (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters).
  2. Bring your rolled coins to any ASCU branch during normal business hours.
  3. Deposit your change and feel good knowing it supports local commerce and community reinvestment.

Small change. Real impact.

Thanks for helping keep our community strong — and keeping your money working locally.

American Southwest Credit Union
Serving Southern Arizona since 1955

This is a community initiative supporting coin recirculation and local reinvestment. It is not a prize, giveaway, or incentive program.