If you’ve ever Googled “CBA coin counting machine”, you’re probably in one of two situations: you have a jar of coins to cash in, or you’re a business owner wondering whether the bank machine is a practical solution for your daily cash handling needs.
The answer to both questions is nuanced — and this guide covers both completely. We’ll explain exactly how the CBA coin counting machine works, who can use it, what it costs, and most importantly, when it stops being a viable option and what you should use instead.
| 💡 Quick Summary: CBA’s in-branch coin counting machines are useful for occasional personal use. For businesses handling coins regularly, they’re not practical — see the alternatives section below. |
What Is the CBA Coin Counting Machine?
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) operates coin counting machines in select branches across Australia. These are self-service kiosks — typically located inside the branch near the teller area — that allow customers (and sometimes non-customers) to deposit loose coins without manually bagging or sorting them.
The machines count mixed coins automatically and produce a printed receipt showing the total value. That receipt is then taken to the teller, who credits the amount to your account or exchanges it for notes.
These aren’t machines CBA manufactures themselves — they’re commercial coin counting units supplied by third-party cash handling equipment providers, operated within the bank’s branch network.
How Does It Work? Step-by-Step
Using a CBA coin counting machine is straightforward:
- Walk into a CBA branch that has a coin counting machine (not all branches have one — more on this below).
- Pour your loose coins into the machine’s hopper (input tray). The machine accepts mixed denominations — no sorting required.
- The machine counts, sorts, and tallies your coins automatically, displaying a running total on screen.
- A receipt is printed showing the total value counted and a breakdown by denomination.
- Take the receipt to the teller. If you’re a CBA customer, the amount is deposited free of charge. If you’re not a customer, a fee applies.
| ⚠️ Important: Always keep your printed receipt. Multiple Australians have reported discrepancies when receipts were lost. If a machine jams or under-counts, your receipt is the only proof of what you deposited. |
CBA Coin Counting Machine Fees: What You’ll Actually Pay
This is where most people get caught out. The fee structure depends entirely on whether you’re a CBA customer:
| Who You Are | What You Pay |
| CBA account holder | Free — full amount deposited to your account |
| Non-CBA customer | 10% fee deducted from total counted amount |
| Anyone (notes exchange) | Free for customers / fee for non-customers |
That 10% fee adds up quickly. Count $200 in coins as a non-customer and you walk away with $180. Count $500 and you lose $50. For anything beyond a one-off personal use, this makes the CBA machine an expensive option.
The practical workaround some Australians use: open a basic CBA account (the Smart Access account has a $4/month fee, but can be waived with a monthly deposit), use the coin machine for free, then close the account. For a one-time large coin count, the maths can work — but it’s hardly convenient for businesses.
Which CBA Branches Have Coin Counting Machines?
Not every Commonwealth Bank branch has a coin counting machine. Availability varies significantly by location, branch size, and region. Some branches removed their machines in recent years as part of broader branch modernisation programs.
To find your nearest CBA branch with a coin counting machine:
- Visit com.au/digital/locate-us and use the branch locator
- Filter by “coin count machine” under services
- Call the branch directly before visiting — availability can change and machines do go out of service
Reported states with reasonable CBA coin machine coverage include NSW, VIC, WA, and QLD. Coverage is thinner in regional areas and some states like SA, where availability has historically been more limited.
| 📍 Pro tip: Call ahead. Nothing is more frustrating than driving to a branch with a bag of coins only to find the machine is full, being serviced, or no longer available. Branch websites are not always updated in real time. |
Honest Limitations of the CBA Coin Machine
After researching real Australian user experiences across forums, review sites, and community discussions, here are the limitations worth knowing before you visit:
1. Machines Jam and Fill Up
The CBA coin machines are high-traffic machines used by many customers throughout the day. They jam, fill up, and go offline regularly. Multiple users report having to wait for staff assistance mid-count or being turned away because the machine is full. This is unpredictable and not something you can plan around as a business.
2. Not All Coins Accepted
CBA machines do not accept 1 cent or 2 cent coins (discontinued Australian denominations) and may have difficulty with damaged, bent, or foreign coins. Coins that are slightly misshapen may also cause jams or be rejected — something to be aware of if your coins have been sitting in a jar for years.
3. Occasional Counting Discrepancies
While most experiences are accurate, some users report being short-counted. The most common explanation is that coins get stuck in internal mechanisms — sometimes picking up leftover coins from previous customers, sometimes losing some of yours. Keeping your receipt and reporting discrepancies immediately is essential; CBA staff can investigate backend deposits, and issues are generally resolved when there’s a receipt.
4. Branch Hours Only
You can only use a CBA coin machine during branch opening hours, which typically end at 4–5 pm on weekdays and often have no weekend availability. For a business doing end-of-day cash reconciliation after 5 pm, this is simply not workable.
5. Queues at Busy Periods
During lunchtime and Friday afternoons, coin machine queues at popular branches can be significant. For a one-person business, spending 45 minutes in a bank queue to deposit coins is an expensive use of time.
| Feature | CBA Machine | Supermarket Machine | Own Machine (Cashcom Con200) | Manual Counting |
| Cost | Free (customer) | 9–11% fee | One-time purchase | Free |
| Availability | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Speed | ⚠️ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Works after hours | ❌ | ⚠️ | ✅ | ✅ |
| No queues | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Suitable for business daily use | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Denomination breakdown | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ⚠️ |
Best Alternatives to the CBA Coin Counting Machine
Option 1: Other Bank Coin Machines
CBA isn’t the only bank with coin counting machines in Australia. NAB also operates coin machines in selected branches, reportedly free for NAB customers. Westpac has machines at some locations. The process and limitations are broadly similar — branch hours, availability varies, and non-customer fees apply.
The practical workaround for frequent coin depositors: open a free or low-fee account at whichever bank has a coin machine closest to you, and use it as your dedicated coin deposit account.
Option 2: Supermarket Coin Machines (Coinstar / IGA)
Some Woolworths, IGA, and shopping centre locations operate standalone coin counting kiosks (often Coinstar-branded). These are open during shopping hours and accessible to anyone without a bank account. The downside: they charge approximately 9–11% of the total counted value. On $300 of coins, that’s $27–$33 in fees — consistently.
For occasional personal use with a small amount of coins, the convenience may justify the fee. For any business use, it’s not a sensible ongoing cost.
Option 3: Buy Your Own Coin Counting Machine (Best for Businesses)
For any business that handles coins on a regular basis — whether daily, weekly, or even fortnightly — owning a coin counting machine is the most practical and cost-effective solution by a significant margin.
Here’s the maths: if your business counts $300 in mixed coins per week and currently uses a supermarket machine at 10% fees, you’re paying approximately $30 per week, or $1,560 per year. A professional coin sorter like Cashcom’s Con200 is a one-time purchase that pays for itself within weeks, not years.
| 💰 ROI Example: $300/week in coins × 10% supermarket fee = $30/week in fees = $1,560/year. A dedicated coin sorting machine eliminates this cost. |
Cashcom Con200: The Best Coin Sorting Machine for Australian Businesses
Cashcom has supplied cash handling equipment to Australian businesses, banks, clubs, and CITs since 2015. The Con200 coin sorting machine is our recommended solution for businesses looking to take coin counting in-house.
| Specification | Con200 Details |
| Counting Speed | 350 coins per minute |
| Hopper Capacity | 500–700 coins |
| Denomination Drawers | 50–300 coins each |
| Display | Large LCD — value + quantity |
| Batch Function | Preset 0–999 coins with memory |
| Dimensions | 317mm × 347mm × 273mm |
| Weight | 4.3 kg — compact and portable |
| Power | AC 220V/50Hz or AC 110V/60Hz (20W) |
| Australian Currency | Fully compatible with AUD denominations |
| Noise Level | Low — suitable for front-of-house |
| Best For | Retail, cafés, clubs, hospitality, banks |
What makes the Con200 particularly well-suited to Australian businesses is the combination of practical capacity, compact footprint, and low noise operation. At 4.3kg and the size of a standard desktop printer, it fits comfortably in any back-office or counter environment without dominating the workspace.
The batch-counting function is a genuine productivity feature for businesses that prepare coin rolls for banking. Set your batch to 20 coins for $1 coins (making $20 rolls), and the machine stops automatically — no manual counting required.
View full specifications and enquire about the Con200 at cashcom.com.au/product/con200-coin-sorter.
CBA Machine vs Own Machine: Which Is Right for You?
| Your Situation | Our Recommendation |
| Occasional personal coins (1–2 times/year) | CBA machine (if you’re a customer) — free and convenient |
| Non-CBA customer, small amount | Pre-bag coins and deposit at your own bank |
| Non-CBA customer, large amount | Consider opening a CBA account or buying a machine |
| Small business, coins 1–2× per week | Con200 or similar — pays for itself quickly |
| Café, retailer, hospitality venue | Con200 — essential for daily cash reconciliation |
| Club or gaming venue | Commercial-grade sorter — contact Cashcom for advice |
| Bank or CIT | Professional high-speed sorter — contact Cashcom directly |
Frequently Asked Questions
| Q: Can non-CBA customers use the CBA coin counting machine?
A: Yes, in most branches — but a 10% fee applies to the total amount counted. CBA customers use the machine for free, with the full amount deposited to their account. |
| Q: How do I find my nearest CBA branch with a coin counting machine?
A: Use CBA’s online branch locator at commbank.com.au/digital/locate-us, filter by “coin count machine” under services. Always call the branch to confirm availability before visiting, as machine availability changes. |
| Q: What coins does the CBA machine accept?
A: Current Australian denominations: 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, and $2. The machines do not accept discontinued 1c or 2c coins, and may reject damaged, bent, or foreign coins. |
| Q: Is there a limit on how many coins I can deposit?
A: CBA does not publish a strict coin limit, but machines have a physical hopper capacity. For very large volumes (several kilograms), you may need to run multiple counts or visit a branch during a quieter period. Always check with the branch for large deposits. |
| Q: What should I do if the machine jams or gives me a wrong total?
A: Keep your printed receipt and immediately speak with branch staff. CBA staff can investigate backend machine records and reconcile discrepancies. Do not leave the branch without raising the issue — receipts are essential proof. |
| Q: Can I get cash out instead of a bank deposit?
A: Yes. After counting, you take your receipt to the teller and can request notes rather than a deposit. Customers receive the full amount in notes. Non-customers receive their amount minus the 10% fee. |
| Q: Is owning a coin counting machine worth it for a small business?
A: Almost always, yes. If your business counts coins more than once a week, a machine like the Cashcom Con200 pays for itself quickly compared to bank queues, limited hours, or supermarket machine fees. Contact Cashcom at 0451 353 676 to discuss the right solution for your volume. |
Final Verdict
The CBA coin counting machine is a genuinely useful service — for CBA customers with a modest, occasional coin deposit. It’s free, reasonably accurate, and saves the tedium of manual counting or bagging.
But it has real limitations. It’s not available at every branch, the 10% non-customer fee is steep, branch hours restrict access, and machines jam or fill up without warning. For anyone handling coins as part of regular business operations, it’s simply not reliable enough to build a cash management process around.
If you’re a business — a café, retailer, club, hospitality venue, or any operation handling daily cash — a dedicated coin sorting machine is the practical answer. The Cashcom Con200 handles 350 coins per minute, sorts by denomination, fits on any counter, and costs nothing per use after the initial purchase.
To find out more, browse Cashcom’s full product range, call 0451 353 676, or email sales@cashcom.com.au. Our team is available Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm, and is happy to recommend the right machine for your volume and budget.