Salal Credit Union’s Business Services team offers members a wide range of business banking services, including online banking, ACH origination, wire transfers, business Bill Pay, and Positive Pay fraud prevention. For businesses that handle high volumes of cash, we also recommend cash logistics and processing as a safer, more efficient way to manage deposits and withdrawals.
What Is Cash Logistics?
Salal supports hundreds of cannabis businesses with these needs, but any cash-intensive business member may benefit from our cash handling services. For example, a busy dispensary, restaurant, convenience store, or entertainment venue may end each day with thousands of dollars in cash on-site. Instead of asking employees or owners to transport those funds themselves, cash logistics services help move deposits securely and efficiently.
We partner with approved cash logistics vendors to provide secure armored transportation of cash deposits from your business location to processing facilities, where funds are verified and credited to your account.
“These services can also include cash order delivery so that businesses receive the denominations businesses need for daily operations,” said Elizabeth Winters, Salal’s Treasury Management Sales and Operations Manager. “For example, a retailer may need more small bills before a holiday weekend, or a dispensary may need extra coins and change after a busy sales period.”
Cannabis Cash Logistics and Handling
Because of ongoing federal banking restrictions, many cannabis businesses still operate with higher volumes of cash than traditional retailers. That can create unique operational and security challenges for dispensaries, cultivators, processors, and ancillary cannabis businesses.
For example, dispensary teams may need to manage large daily cash deposits, maintain secure cash storage on-site, and safely transport funds without putting employees at unnecessary risk. That’s where cannabis cash logistics services can help.
Salal has supported licensed cannabis businesses since 2014, and we understand the importance of secure cash handling solutions for this industry. Through approved armored transportation and cash management partners, businesses can schedule dispensary cash pickups, request change-order deliveries, and improve the chain of custody for deposited funds.
These services may also help cannabis operators reduce the amount of cash stored at their locations overnight while improving visibility into daily cash flow.
Whether you run a single dispensary or manage multiple retail locations, secure cannabis cash logistics services can help streamline operations and support safer day-to-day cash management.
Secure Cash Pickup and Delivery Services
Our team, including Treasury Management Sales Officer David Krueger, can help you explore options for secure cash transportation. You can learn about pickup schedules, how to request small bills and coins for change, and available service options in your area.
For example, a multi-location cannabis retailer may schedule armored pickups several times a week to reduce the amount of cash stored overnight. A restaurant owner might arrange early-morning cash deliveries before a busy weekend shift so staff have enough change available at opening.
Many providers also offer provisional deposit credit on the business day following your scheduled pickup. That means you may gain faster visibility into your available funds while your cash is still being processed. Afterward, your cash is counted twice to help ensure accuracy before final deposit.
Smart Safes and Cash Recyclers for Better Cash Flow
Salal also works with smart safe and cash recycler vendors that help you store cash securely on-site while receiving provisional credit for deposited funds.
For example, a dispensary with high daily cash volume can deposit funds directly into a smart safe throughout the day instead of storing cash in multiple tills or back-office drawers. Some retailers also use cash recyclers to automatically sort and redistribute bills for employee transactions, helping reduce counting errors and saving staff time during shift changes.
“The goal is to provide a secure chain of custody for cash while simplifying the deposit process and improving cash flow visibility,” said Elizabeth. Smart safes connect via Wi-Fi, and deposits are logged digitally each day.
Cash Logistics Fees and Pricing
When you enroll in a service, we’ll explain the fees associated with cash logistics. Carriers often charge a pickup fee, which they bill via a direct ACH debit from your account after they pick up your deposit.
In addition, you will see a cash-counting fee on your Salal analysis statement each month, and we can provide you with advance pricing charts specific to your location and vendor, similar to this example for Empyreal in Washington state:
Ongoing Support for Cash Management Services
Our Treasury and Cash Management Specialists, Alice Brown and Magaska Christensen, are here to help process requests and troubleshoot concerns.
For example, “Recently, a member with one of our armored car service vendors didn’t get the quarters they ordered when the rest of their cash was delivered and reached out to Business Services about it,” said Alice, our Senior Specialist. “I was notified and contacted the vendor, who delivered the quarters to the member that day, with no additional charges.”
Help With Smart Safe Troubleshooting
Smart safe connection issues can happen after internet or network outages. If that happens, members can reach out to Alice and Magaska or email TreasuryManagement@salalcu.org to begin troubleshooting. If the issue continues, we’ll help connect you with the right support team.
Benefits of Cash Logistics for Businesses
With our cash logistics service, we’re here to help save you time, money, and risk. “The primary value,” Elizabeth shared, “is improved security by eliminating the need for employees to transport cash themselves, along with operational efficiency, faster access to funds through provisional credit, and a more consistent, reliable cash management process.”
Talk With Salal About Cash Logistics
If you have questions about our cash logistics services, please get in touch with your Account Officer or Business Services at 206.298.9398 or BusinessServices@SalalCU.org anytime.
