Coinstar Expands Services Across the US
Coinstar has nearly 24,000 kiosks worldwide and handles over 50 million transactions every year. It’s not just about counting coins anymore. Coinstar is growing its services in the US and connecting cash to digital wallets faster.
I’ve been to many stores using Coinstar’s coin machines. Recently, I noticed changes. Coinstar is adding new ways to use your coins for cash or digital spending.
There’s been a leadership shift. Brandon Thompson is now in charge as of July 30, 2025. His goal? Fast-track digital projects and offer more for those who like paying in cash. This means easier coin exchange, better kiosk and mobile app connection, and smart options for coin use.
Looking for a coin exchange nearby or curious about Coinstar’s updates? Use this coin exchange guide to explore and make your change work for you.
Key Takeaways
- Coinstar runs about 24,000 connected kiosks and processes 50 million+ transactions annually.
- The company is expanding both physical coin counting machine access and digital wallet services.
- New leadership in 2025 aims to speed digital initiatives and broaden product offerings.
- Expansion makes it easier to turn coins into cash or direct digital funds for daily use.
- DIY users will see better integration of the coin machine experience with mobile tools.
Overview of Coinstar’s Growth and Expansion
The first time I used a coin machine, it felt magical. Watching my quarters fall into the tray was a joy. Coinstar made this process simple for people wanting to use their spare change. It began with coin-counting kiosks in stores and grew to include online services.
Coinstar is like a magic box that turns coins into spending money. At its kiosks, you can get cash, digital credits, or e-gift cards just by dropping in your coins. It’s a quick and trusted service that saves a trip to the bank.
Brief history of Coinstar
Coinstar was founded to help people get rid of annoying loose change. It started by placing its machines in supermarkets. Then, it added the option to get e-gift cards and connected the kiosks to online services. This move built trust and allowed it to offer more.
Recent growth trends
Lately, Coinstar has been adding digital services to its coin machines. It launched Cinq by Coinstar, and now has 24,000 kiosks worldwide. These machines handle 50 million transactions a year, showing how the company is growing in the digital age.
New leaders at Coinstar are making the service even better. They bring experience from the prepaid and fintech world. This is good news for people and small businesses. They can now exchange coins more easily and use their money in new ways.
Area | Historical Role | Current Direction |
---|---|---|
Physical kiosks | Core distribution of coin sorter services in retail | Maintain footprint while improving digital integration |
Coin counting service | On-site coin-to-cash conversion | Expand to cash-to-digital and wallet features |
Transactions | High-volume, in-person use | Hybrid mix of in-store and app-driven transactions |
Market reach | Retail-heavy U.S. presence | Global kiosk maintenance with growing digital products |
The Services Offered by Coinstar
Watching people pour their coins into a machine and see it turn into cash is exciting. Coinstar kiosks make it easy to turn coins into something more useful. This convenience is significant for those of us using cash regularly.
Coin Exchange Services
The main service is simple: you pour coins into a machine to get cash or a voucher. The kiosk turns your coins into cash or a store voucher quickly. When I need to avoid a small fee, I choose store vouchers instead of cash.
This flexibility is great for collectors, those who sell at garage sales, and small business owners. It helps them quickly change a lot of coins into money they can use.
E-Gift Cards and Mobile Payments
Coinstar now offers e-gift cards and mobile payments in addition to paper vouchers. Opting for e-gift cards from popular stores often cuts or drops the usual fee. I’ve found that e-gift cards are convenient for planned purchases instead of when you need cash right away.
The company is also introducing digital wallet features, like Cinq, to convert change into digital money. This service is perfect for online shopping, paying bills, or transferring money from your phone.
Additional Banking Services
Coinstar is expanding into more financial services, including digital wallets and transfer programs. Its Retail Remote Transfer system already helps millions. These services make it easier to turn coins into bank-ready or digital funds without extra bank visits.
These offerings are a boon for coin collectors and small business operators. They streamline the process of turning coins into usable funds, managing digital money, and sending funds without needing to visit a bank.
Statistics on Coinstar’s Growth
I like to track numbers because they tell stories better than just words. Coinstar shows how coin counting becomes part of our routine. These numbers show us how people start using and keep using new tech at kiosks.
Overall Market Share
Coinstar has about 24,000 kiosks all over the world. This lets them handle over 50 million transactions each year. This makes them a top company for coin counting.
Looking at the data, it’s clear why people keep using their kiosks. The chance for more people to sign up and use Coinstar is obvious. Their reliable coin machines and the option to exchange coins keep customers coming back.
Regional Expansion Data
In 2025, Coinstar is focusing on growing in the U.S. They plan to introduce the Cinq wallet here first. This means many of their 24,000 kiosks will start offering new digital services.
In cities, you’ll find a lot of Coinstar machines. In rural areas, there are fewer but they’re used a lot when available. This helps Coinstar decide where to put new machines and where to advertise their services.
User Growth Over the Years
Over time, more people have used these kiosks to quickly deal with spare change. The company sees a rise in users choosing account-based services. For example, about 15 million people have joined the Retail Remote Transfer program.
With new hires and plans for late 2025, Coinstar aims to turn casual users into digital-wallet customers. We can see this shift happening. It’s in the numbers of physical and digital transactions.
Metric | Recent Value | Trend | Implication |
---|---|---|---|
Connected Kiosks | ~24,000 | Stable expansion | Broad reach for coin machine services and digital onboarding |
Annual Transactions | 50,000,000+ | Gradual increase | High-volume dataset for conversion modeling |
Account Holders (Retail Remote Transfer) | ~15,000,000 | Growing | Base for accelerating coin exchange to wallet migration |
U.S. Expansion Focus | Primary 2025 target | Intensifying | Priority region for new coin sorter deployments and Cinq rollout |
Digital Conversion Rate (estimate) | Varies by region | Upward with new products | Key lever to increase revenue per kiosk |
Economic Impact of Coinstar’s Services
I saw how a Coinstar kiosk turned loose change into a lunch fund. These moments matter in communities. It turns small coins into spendable cash, increasing local buys and money flow in bank-scarce areas.
Boosting Local Economies
Using coin machines means people spend their cash close by. This spending supports local stores, cafes, and markets. In cash-heavy places, changing coins into bills keeps the economy active.
Supporting Small Businesses
Stores hosting the machines get more visitors. A visitor might buy something extra or a gift card. Moving coins to digital funds opens up new spending opportunities for small shops and chains.
Employment Opportunities Created
Coin machine networks bring jobs. Retail workers maintain these kiosks. At the same time, businesses hire more for product management and partnerships. Adding digital strategy staff shows fintech and operations are growing.
Impact Area | How Coinstar Contributes | Local Effect |
---|---|---|
Cash Liquidity | Enables customers to cash in coins at kiosks or convert to e-gift cards | Immediate consumer spending in host stores |
Small Business Support | Drives foot traffic and increased transactions via digital balances | Higher sales for independent retailers and franchises |
Employment | Jobs in maintenance, logistics, retail operations, and digital teams | Local hiring and career growth in fintech roles |
Financial Inclusion | Converting coins to cash or digital value improves access for underbanked users | More efficient local money flow and improved purchasing power |
Customer Experience and Satisfaction
I visit kiosks and test their apps, sharing my encounters. Coinstar turns pocket change into something more useful. The kiosk interface is easy to use, with clear prompts and simple steps for beginners.
User-Friendly Interfaces
The touchscreens on the machines guide you clearly. They tell you to deposit coins, pick how you want to get paid, and print a voucher. The mobile link by Cinq makes changing coins to e-gift cards or transfers easy with its smooth digital interface.
Accessibility in Various Locations
With nearly 24,000 places to find them, Coinstar is easy to access. If you’re in a city, it’s a short walk. In the suburbs, it’s conveniently inside stores. Even rural spots have them in small towns.
Customer Testimonials and Feedback
Customers like how fast and reliable the coin exchange is based on my visits. They don’t like the fees and sometimes waiting in line when it’s busy. Yet, many now prefer getting their money digitally, lining up with new updates and what users want.
Tools Available for Coinstar Users
I test tools to share my findings. Coinstar blends digital and physical tools, saving hours spent on sorting change. It benefits hobbyists and small vendors by easily converting coins to cash or digital funds.
Coinstar App Features
The Coinstar app and Cinq, a digital wallet, work well together. The app displays wallet balances and transactions. It also offers easy ways to get e-gift cards or bank transfers. With Cinq, paying bills and buying in stores becomes straightforward, avoiding the need for paper vouchers.
Future updates promise more retailer connections and wallet functions. Soon, users might skip paper vouchers by sending coin machine funds directly to their phones.
Online Tracking and Management Tools
Account dashboards provide detailed coin exchange histories and transaction activities. The Retail Remote Transfer program stands out for its vast user base, showing the trend towards digital transactions.
These dashboards can be filtered by date, payout type, or kiosk location. They’re handy for small stalls or managing a project’s finances with ease.
In-Store Kiosk Innovations
Coin machines in stores are key. They accept lots of coins and offer different payout methods. New kiosks work faster thanks to better sorters and user-friendly touch screens.
Retail connections are improving too. Soon, Coinstar kiosks will work better with store systems and digital wallets. This means quicker transactions for everyone.
Whenever possible, I personally check the coin counting machines. They’re great at reducing counting mistakes. For anyone collecting or selling, these machines provide valuable time savings and variety in payout options.
Tool | Primary Use | Best For |
---|---|---|
Coinstar App / Cinq | Wallet balances, digital payouts, bill pay | Everyday users who want quick digital transfers |
Account Dashboard | Transaction history, voucher tracking, transfer management | Small businesses and hobbyists reconciling sales |
In-Store Coin Machine | Bulk coin acceptance, instant voucher or digital payout | Shoppers and retailers handling high coin volumes |
Advanced Coin Sorter Hardware | Faster sorting, reduced jams, improved accuracy | Collectors and vendors needing rapid processing |
Retail Remote Transfer | Account-based transfers to linked wallets or banks | Users who prefer direct deposits over cash vouchers |
Predictions for Coinstar’s Future
I watch Coinstar’s moves with a mix of curiosity and practical optimism. Cash still has value for many. This makes their coin counting kiosks important, even as digital payments grow. The big question is if Coinstar can keep its coin-loving customers while growing a digital audience.
I see three main trends for this industry. First, older folks and those without banks will keep using cash. This keeps coin machines in stores in demand. Second, competition in fintech and new rules will push for faster updates to products. Third, stores will want better connections between their kiosks and mobile wallets.
Company leaders are pointing towards a technology upgrade. They plan to make coin-sorting faster to avoid lines. They also want to make kiosks more reliable online. And they aim to add more options for users, like paying bills or sending money with the coins they deposit. This could make the kiosks more than just a place to exchange coins.
Turning kiosk users into digital customers is key. If Coinstar can get even a small percentage to switch, it would boost their earnings. They have 24,000 kiosks and new products coming. A 10–20% switch could mean millions more using their digital services. That would be a big new source of income from both the coin exchange and wallet use.
But there are hurdles. Coinstar needs to work well with stores. They also have to be very secure and follow rules strictly. People exchanging coins want quick, easy service with clear fees. The digital service has to be just as good to get users to come back.
My short forecast: Coinstar will likely see more people using their digital options. This will be from making kiosk experiences better and adding wallet features. Expect to see more business each year, and a careful expansion in the U.S. before going global. Whether Coinstar can keep its coin service appealing while adding new tech will be key to getting more regular customers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Coinstar
People often ask me practical questions about bringing in a jar of coins. This FAQ talks about how Coinstar works, the fees you might pay, and how to find a kiosk. My insights come from using Coinstar kiosks in supermarkets and large stores.
How does it work?
Just drop your coins into the coin counting machine. It will count and sort them for you. Then, the kiosk gives you a voucher. You can exchange this voucher for cash at the store, choose an e-gift card, or opt for a digital transfer. Coinstar also offers ways to shift your change directly into digital accounts, like Cinq.
What fees are associated?
Cashing out usually means paying a processing fee. This fee is often a percentage of your cash voucher. Picking an e-gift card might save you the fee, especially during special promotions or at certain stores. If you transfer your money to a digital wallet, the fees can vary. Always check the kiosk’s display or Coinstar’s app before deciding.
Where can I find kiosks?
You can find Coinstar kiosks in supermarkets, large stores, and some credit unions across the U.S. There are thousands of them, so finding one near you is easy. For finding locations and understanding your payout options, try Coinstar’s locator tools or a mapping app. For more tips on using Coinstar for free, check out this guide: where to cash coins for free near.
Question | Short Answer | Practical Tip |
---|---|---|
How does the service operate? | The coin machine counts and issues a voucher or digital payout. | Empty pockets into the hopper for a quick count; read the screen for payout choices. |
Are there fees? | Cash payouts usually have a processing fee; e-gift cards may be free. | Choose e-gift cards or check promotions to avoid fees. |
Where are kiosks located? | Supermarkets, retailers, and some credit unions nationwide. | Use the kiosk locator or app to confirm availability and payout types. |
Can I donate coins? | Yes. Coinstar accepts charity donations to groups like UNICEF and Make‑A‑Wish. | Select the donate option on-screen to skip fees and support causes. |
Is digital transfer available? | Yes, through select partners and newer Coinstar services. | Look for Cinq by Coinstar or wallet options listed on the kiosk. |
The Role of Technology in Coinstar’s Services
When I visit a supermarket, I see how the kiosk changes. Coinstar is moving towards digital by blending machines and cloud tech. This lets me change coins into money for bills or shopping without a bank.
Digital Services Integration
The company connects kiosks to payment systems using Cinq and Retail Remote Transfer. This makes swapping coins for digital cash easy and fast. After counting, coins are turned into a digital balance for the user.
This system lets customers turn loose change into digital money quickly. Retailers deal with less cash, and customers get more ways to spend their money.
Mobile App Development
I’ve tried the Cinq wallet app. It focuses on easy setup, seeing your transactions, and moving money easily. It lets users keep an eye on their coin deposits and transfer them to banks or cards.
The app makes it easier to handle change from kiosks. Alerts and digital receipts help avoid problems. If issued, partner cards let users access their kiosk money right away.
Future Tech Innovations
New kiosks will sort coins better and work faster. They’ll connect in real-time to fix issues, update software, and confirm transactions quickly.
Future services will also improve security for transferring money from wallets to banks. Connecting with retail and fintech partners could offer more payout options.
- Hardware: better sensors, quicker coin sorting, lower downtime.
- Connectivity: secure, low-latency links between kiosks and cloud services.
- Compliance: layered identity verification for safe coin exchange and transfers.
Evidence Supporting Coinstar’s Market Position
I keep a close eye on industry data. Recent reports and articles show Coinstar’s big scale. It operates about 24,000 kiosks and does over 50 million transactions yearly. These facts highlight the vast spread of Coinstar’s coin counting service and machines.
Recent Reports and Studies
News from the payment world and press releases mention new key team members and future plans for 2025. Payments News discussed the number of kiosks and transactions. Experts say the mix of machines and account programs aims to increase digital options for changing coins into cash or digital funds.
User Growth Metrics
Public numbers reveal more than 50 million transactions a year and around 15 million users in the Retail Remote Transfer program. This program connects coin kiosks to accounts for transfers. These stats show wide use of Coinstar kiosks and their counting services.
Comparative Analysis with Competitors
Compared to banks and fintech, Coinstar’s 24,000 kiosks offer a bigger network. Few can match its hardware and digital approach. This strategy allows users to easily turn coins into cash or deposits.
Metric | Coinstar | Typical Bank-Led Options | Fintech Alternatives |
---|---|---|---|
Kiosk Count | ~24,000 | Limited branch-based machines | Rare physical kiosks |
Annual Transactions | 50M+ | Lower, branch-dependent | Variable, app-focused |
Account Program Users | 15M Retail Remote Transfer | Account-linked services exist | Often digital-only |
Primary Service | Coin machine & coin exchanger | In-branch coin counting service | Cash conversion to cards/apps |
The data creates a clear picture. The number of kiosks, transactions, and users shows Coinstar’s strong position. Hiring leaders with fintech backgrounds signals growth into digital services.
How to Use Coinstar Effectively
I have a jar where I save all my spare change. I see going to a Coinstar as a quick weekend task. My aim is clear: I want to turn my change into cash easily and with the best return. Here, I’ll tell you exactly how I do it, sharing useful steps and hints for when you’re ready to exchange your coins.
Step-by-Step Guide to Coin Exchange
1. First, collect all your loose change. Make sure you remove anything that’s not a coin, like paper clips or rubber bands.
2. Then, find your nearest Coinstar kiosk. You can use the Coinstar website or their app to locate one.
3. At the kiosk, you’ll see on-screen instructions. Here, you can choose how you want your money: as cash, an e-gift card, or a direct wallet transfer.
4. Put your coins in the machine. Wait a little while it sorts and counts them. The machine inside is doing all the hard work.
5. Finally, you’ll get a voucher that you can exchange for cash at the store’s service desk. Or, if you chose, confirm the transfer to your digital account or wallet.
Tips for Maximizing Earnings
Choosing e-gift cards during special Coinstar promotions can save you money on fees. These deals are great for when you’re cashing in small amounts.
Try to exchange all your coins in one go. This way, you’ll pay less in fees. It also saves time and effort.
Always check for special deals. Sometimes, you can find promotions or app exclusives that waive fees. The Coinstar app lists the latest offers.
If you have a ton of coins, think about rolling them or going to a local bank first. Rolled coins can be cheaper to exchange than paying fees at Coinstar each time.
Important Considerations Before Use
Remember, different payout options have different fees. Usually, cash vouchers have higher fees compared to e-gift cards or direct transfers.
Always check if the Coinstar kiosk is working and what payout options are available before heading out. Not all locations offer wallet transfers yet.
Keep your receipts and check your digital confirmations carefully. It’s rare, but errors can happen. It’s always good to double-check.
Only use the official Coinstar app and trusted kiosks. This keeps you safe from scams. Keep an eye on your account after any digital transfers.
From my experience, you might run into a jam or a queue at times. However, the ease and reliability of these machines often outweigh these minor inconveniences. For me, being able to quickly turn my coins into cash without much trouble is always worth it.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
I’ve watched Coinstar evolve from a simple coin machine to a complex financial platform. They have around 24,000 kiosks worldwide and handle over 50 million transactions a year. The addition of Brandon Thompson in July 2025 is setting the stage for new digital products like the Cinq wallet. This move is changing the way we turn coins into cash or digital funds.
Summary of Key Points
Coinstar has grown beyond being just a coin counting service. It offers reliable coin exchange at thousands of places. Now, it provides mobile payout options and more e-gift card choices. So, you can change loose coins into something useful—like cash, gift credit, or digital funds—depending on current promotions.
The Future of Coinstar in the Digital Age
Coinstar is mixing physical kiosks with mobile wallets next. We will see tighter connections between coin machines and digital payments. There will be more versatile ways to exchange coins and innovative financial products. This lets users easily turn their coins into digital currency for daily expenses. Coinstar’s large scale uniquely positions it to connect traditional cash users with modern fintech.
Call to Action for New Users
If you have change piling up, explore what Coinstar offers. Find a kiosk using the Coinstar locator, check out the fees, and keep an eye on e-gift card deals. When digital wallets like Cinq become available, see how they fit into your life. For those who like trying out new tools, this could be a rewarding venture.
From my own experience, I’ve noticed how quietly efficient these kiosks are in supermarkets. With Coinstar’s dive into the fintech space, including Cinq, it’s clear they’re building a bridge from coins to digital wallets. So, take your change, run the math, and choose what’s best for you financially.