Cash Visibility Frequently Asked Questions
FedCash® Services is committed to providing the information you need. Answers to many of our customers’ most frequently asked questions can be found using the links below.
If your question is not answered by the information provided on the site, Contact provides a comprehensive list of service and support contacts who can assist you.
Cash Visibility Questions
General
1. Where can I find information on Cash Visibility?
- Federal Reserve Cash Visibility page
- Federal Reserve FedCash E-Manifest Service page
- Federal Reserve “What is Cash Visibility?” overview video (Off-site)
- GS1 US’s website (Off-site)
- GS1 US® is a not-for-profit information standards organization that administers information standards, including barcodes. For more information about these standards, visit GS1 US FAQs (Off-site).
- GS1 Frequently Asked Questions (Off-site)
- Cash Visibility flyer (Off-site) and GS1 video (Off-site)
For questions, please contact the Federal Reserve at CVIndustry@frb.org.
2. What’s the “visibility” part of Cash Visibility?
The movement of cash will be visible in real-time via electronic transfers of information between the entities that exchange them (e.g., armored carriers, the Federal Reserve Bank, etc.). Armored carriers (or other cash supply chain entities) may utilize their own technology to share details of the orders and deposits with their cash supply chain clients (financial institutions, etc.).
3. What is the FedCash E-Manifest Service?
The E-Manifest Service supports the industry’s movement toward Cash Visibility as it enables financial institutions and armored carriers that work directly with the Federal Reserve to electronically process currency deposits and orders at Fed docks. The E-Manifest Service replaces the manual process of matching paper manifests for deposits and orders at Federal Reserve docks with a technology that enables scanning and an electronic exchange of data.
Visit the E-Manifest Service page for more information and to complete an expression of interest form, which is the first step to adopting the E-Manifest Service.
4. Why should my organization participate in the FedCash E-Manifest Service?
Now is the time to bring cash supply chain logistics up to speed through Cash Visibility and the E-Manifest Service. Today, the United States cash supply chain is largely a paper-based operation, reliant on manual data entry. The E-Manifest Service will bring numerous benefits including:
- Improved resiliency through greater visibility of package contents and data sharing capabilities;
- Accelerated dock exchanges using API technology to validate data exchanges and eliminate paper-based processes;
- More efficient reconciliation by leveraging electronic data;
- Going ‘green’ by reducing dependency on paper deposit tickets and manifests;
- Future automation opportunities, such as expedited reporting and leveraging data for enhanced efficiencies.
Learn more about the benefits of the E-Manifest Service by visiting the E-Manifest Service page.
5. Is there a cost to use the FedCash E-Manifest Service?
There are no fees from the Federal Reserve to use the E-Manifest Service. There may be other third-party or associated costs for the adopting organization to implement the service.
To learn more, complete the E-Manifest Service expression of interest form.
Financial Institutions
1. We are a financial institution. Do we need to sign up for the FedCash E-Manifest Service?
It is not a requirement to adopt the E-Manifest Service at this time; however, if your financial institution uses Federal Reserve Cash Services (FedCash Services) for currency orders/deposits, you can implement the E-Manifest Service in partnership with your armored carrier(s) to electronically process currency deposits and orders at Fed docks, with no fees from the Fed to use this service. To adopt the E-Manifest Service, complete the E-Manifest Service expression of interest form.
The Fed’s E-Manifest Readiness Program team will guide you through your individual onboarding path, including sharing information on how your institution can obtain Global Location Numbers (GLNs) and/or a GS1 Company prefix with GS1 US (Off-site).
2. How many Global Location Numbers (GLNs) will I need for the FedCash E-Manifest Service?
At minimum for the E-Manifest Service, your organization will need a unique GLN per location (or branch) that deposits and/or orders with the Federal Reserve. However, there are other considerations (e.g., future additions of locations, greater Cash Visibility implementation efforts, approach for barcoded supply products) that may influence the number of GLNs or type of GS1 license your organization should purchase.
Unique GLNs may be licensed (purchased) individually, or licensed package with a GS1 prefix is also available from GS1.
For more guidance, complete the E-Manifest Service expression of interest form.
3. What should I do if some of my financial institution’s cash vaults are outsourced?
The Federal Reserve E-Manifest Readiness Program team can help facilitate your onboarding in partnership with your outsourced vault operator. To get started, complete the E-Manifest Service expression of interest form to get started on your Cash Visibility journey today.
4. What if my financial institution’s cash vaults include both in-house and outsourced cash vaults?
The Federal Reserve E-Manifest Readiness Program team can help facilitate onboarding in partnership with your servicing armored carrier(s) and outsourced vault operator(s). To get started, complete the E-Manifest Service expression of interest form to get started on your Cash Visibility journey today.
5. What technology resources are needed to begin?
Depending on your current cash operations and your organization’s goals for Cash Visibility, this may vary from low technology resource needs to some development considerations. The Federal Reserve E-Manifest Readiness Program team can review the E-Manifest Service workflows to help your financial institution assess if there are any technology considerations and how you can partner with your servicing armored carrier. To get started on your Cash Visibility journey, complete the E-Manifest Service expression of interest form today.
Armored Carriers
1. What is an armored carrier’s role in Cash Visibility and the FedCash E-Manifest Service?
As an entity physically picking up, dropping off and moving cash, a participating armored carrier will need the ability to electronically create and receive both What-to-Expect (WTE) and e-receipt files. The carrier also will need the ability to scan Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) (Off-site) bag bar codes at point of pickup and delivery.
2. How does the FedCash E-Manifest Service replace paper manifests and who exchanges them?
The what-to-expect (WTE) file contains essentially the same information as a paper manifest. The armored carrier will need the ability to submit and receive WTE and electronic receipt (e-receipt) files. The e-receipts are the equivalent of signing a paper manifest.
For deposits, armored carriers will need to submit the WTE for their financial institution customers’ deposits to the Federal Reserve and retrieve the e-receipt generated by the Federal Reserve once the deposit has been received.
For orders, armored carriers will leverage their scanning technology to reconcile the physical cash bags or containers with the expected cash order details in the WTE provided by the Federal Reserve. When the order process is complete, the armored carrier must generate an e-receipt file for cash orders paid out.
Outside of the Federal Reserve dock exchange, armored carriers will also need to consider how to best exchange the deposit and order information with their financial institution customers and at other armored carrier loading docks. This “digital exchange” will increase efficiency, reduce dock time and reduce proof of delivery requests.
3. Will our logistics or cash vault software technology need to change?
There are technology considerations for an armored carrier to implement the E-Manifest Service, including the need for handheld scanning ability and the use of the GS1 data standard (e.g., ability to associate a Global Location Number or GLN (Off-site) with a service location or inventory, accommodate Serial Shipping Container Codes (SSCC) barcodes that are 20 digits, etc.). Armored carriers will also need the ability to accept and create the data within the WTE and e-receipt files via API (Application Programming Interface) technology.
Complete the E-Manifest Service expression of interest form to get started on your Cash Visibility journey today.
4. Will we need to obtain GLNs or license a GS1 Company Prefix?
At minimum for the E-Manifest Service, your organization will need a unique GLN per location (or branch) that facilitates deposits and/or orders on behalf of your financial institution customers with the Federal Reserve. However, there are other considerations (e.g., future additions of locations, greater Cash Visibility implementation efforts, approach for barcoded supply products) that may influence the number of GLNs and/or need for a GS1 prefix your organization should purchase.
Unique GLNs may be licensed (purchased) individually, or licensed package options are also available from GS1.
For more guidance, complete the E-Manifest Service expression of interest form.
Other Organizations
1. How are financial technology (fintech) organizations involved with the FedCash E-Manifest Service?
Many armored carriers outsource their software and technology development needs to a third party (including fintechs). Since armored carriers are responsible for transmitting and receiving the necessary data (on behalf of their financial institution customers) with the Federal Reserve for the E-Manifest Service, armored carriers may choose to leverage a fintech organization to develop or incorporate that capability into their operations.
If you are a fintech organization that services armored carriers who come to the Federal Reserve dock and would like more information about the E-Manifest Service, please complete the E-Manifest Service expression of interest form to get started.
2. What should currency packaging supply vendors know about the FedCash E-Manifest Service?
To implement the E-Manifest Service, armored carriers and financial institutions will need to ensure their plastic currency shipping bags (or for containerized orders and deposits, their plastic tags) have the necessary GS1 standard Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC) (Off-site) barcode format. Armored carriers and financial institutions may choose their SSCC barcodes to include their organization’s GS1 standard prefix or they may request an ‘off the shelf’ SSCC option from their vendor (which leverages the vendor’s GS1 prefix), both options are acceptable for the E-Manifest Service.
For more information on the required GS1 standard SSCC barcode format or how to get started, please complete the E-Manifest Service expression of interest form.