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Nationwide grocery chain to no longer return coin change to customers due to Federal Reserve shortage

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Due to a coin shortage at the Federal Reserve, Kroger will no longer return coin change to customers.

Instead, the remainders from cash transactions can either be donated to charity or applied to the customers' loyalty cards to be used on the next purchase.

The change in giving change also applies to subsidiaries of Kroger, including Ralphs, Food 4 Less, King Soopers, Smith's and more.

Kroger officials said, "at Kroger, we are implementing several creative solutions to minimize the impact to our customers. We know this is an inconvenience for our customers and we appreciate their patience. The Treasury Department expects the shortage to diminish as more regions of the country reopen."

Customers have the following options if coins are not available:

  • Round up to support Zero Hunger, Zero Waste Foundation
  • Pay with a form of payment other than cash
  • Have their coin change loaded as credit toward their next purchase directly to their loyalty card

Customers using self-checkout will still be able to receive coins.

There are multiple reasons leading to the current coin shortage. The U.S. Mint has slowed production to keep employees safe from the coronavirus. With stay-at-home orders and business shut-downs, fewer people are spending coins at stores, laundromats, vending machines and other places.

Walmart and CVS locations have also made changes to encourage customers to use exact change or plastic to pay for their items when possible.

The Federal Reserve rationed coins in June and gathered a task force to look into the shortage to come up with possible solutions.

This story was originally published by Rebekah Pewitt at WTVF.