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​Administration of Cash

Services developed by BCCR for the administration and trading of national currency through SINPE.

Auxiliary Cash Custody

Banks authorized by BCCR are allowed to have an auxiliary custody of national currency, thereby reducing both costs and risks associated with its administration.

This service was launched in September 2004, enabling BCCR to decentralize the custody of part of its cash inventory into the vaults of commercial banks. Vaults serve as Auxiliary Cash Custodians (ACC) where banks deposit and withdraw cash, thereby more efficiently meeting their needs in a modern, safe, and cost-effective fashion.

Before the auxiliary cash custody was in place, many of the banks had to go to BCCR’s vaults up to five times a week to deposit or withdraw their cash. Today, this routine is performed once or twice a month. This is expected to become a model in the future where BCCR’s involvement will be limited to delivering fresh cash as required by the economy, and to destroy deteriorated cash.

Using the service

Through the Auxiliary Cash Custody, financial entities directly address their needs for cash, without having to move to or from BCCR the funds deposited or withdrawn from BCCR’s accounts.

To operate an ACC, interested entities must obtain an authorization, and meet the requirements established by BCCR.

Advantages

• Optimizing response times to meet the economy’s demand for cash. In case of contingencies of various kinds such as natural disasters, strikes, road closing, or bank runs, BCCR is prepared to supply the cash needed by financial entities so that their operations are not interrupted.

• Reduction in operation costs - Since commercial banks working with ACCs do not have to send armored vans to BCCR’s main offices to provide themselves with cash, their operation costs are reduced on this item.

• Less operation risks - By not having to move cash from BCCR to their own vaults, banks reduce the chances of cash robbery and loss.

• With the ACC system of operation, banks do their deposits and cash withdrawals in so-called Auxiliary Accounts -located in the banks themselves- recording in real time every movement in their reserve account with the software provided with the service. BCCR may review and audit the procedure at any time, and establish sanctions in case of operational errors -especially missing cash.

• An auxiliary custody may be put in place in any branch agency of a commercial bank or in the facilities of cash processing firms, provided that it meets all existing infrastructure requirements, and if they act on behalf of the financial entity.

Working hours

The ACC service operates in working hours established in the System of Payments Regulations.

Related documents

   • System of Payments Regula​​tions (spanish)

Cash Market

Banks that have joined this service may trade national and foreign currency. This service administered by BCCR.​

 Using this service

 Through the cash market, Banks distribute their cash surpluses, and forestall their processing, while also obtaining a margin of profit from such trading. To  operate the Cash Market (CM) service, interested financial entities must request the corresponding permit, and meet the requirements defined by BCCR.

Advantages

   • Optimum response time to meet banks’ cash needs - In the face of various types of contingencies forcing a rise in a financial entity’s demand for cash, such an entity does not necessarily have to go to BCCR to meet it. Additional cash may be traded with another bank that has the necessary amount, denomination, and quality of currency.
   • Reduction in operational costs - Commercial banks operating through a CM /MEN, may obtain classified cash, thereby reducing their operating costs.

   • Less operating risks - In the case of entities requiring cash for a branch agency outside the Great Metropolitan Area, there is no need to move to and from BCCR, as cash may be traded with another bank nearby.

Working hours

The Cash Market service is available during the working hours defined in the System of P​ayments Regulations.

Related documents

   • System of Payments Regulations (spanish)