Getting cash at the Exchange is like money in the bank for Airmen, veterans

  • Published
  • By Christopher Bailey
  • Nucleus staff writer
Kirtland Air Force Base, NM --  DALLAS -- As banks calculate consumer's pain threshold for increasing fees, the Exchange is offering shoppers cheap access to their money with free check cashing and cash back on debit transactions.

"It's all about saving money and time," said the Exchange's Chief of Staff Col. Tom Ockenfels. "You can cash your checks and get cash on your own time at the Exchange and won't be charged a fee."

Authorized shoppers can cash personal checks up to $300 per day, per customer at no charge and as always, checks will be accepted up to the exact amount of any purchase. Customers will also be able to use their debit cards to receive up to $50 cash back at the registers.

Kirtland Air Force Base Exchange Operations Manager Deborah Chapman said the Exchange normally does about 10 to 20 transactions a day, but during the holiday season, that number jumps up to 40 or 50.

"There are several active duty members who have a home bank or a state bank, so they write a check and get some cash," said Chapman. "Then we have a lot of retirees who don't have debit cards, so this policy keeps them from having to write a two-dollar check and they can have some cash in their pocket."

While the Exchange's limit is $300, the transaction amount is much smaller at the base's two Express centers.

"We don't have the resources to give out $300, so our amount is $50," said East side Express Center shift manager Christina Zayas. "But it's only at the two Express centers. The policy doesn't apply at the base furniture store or at military clothing."

The Exchange also cashes other checks and instruments for cash at no charge such as Army Emergency Relief, Air Force Aid Society and Naval Relief Society checks, U.S. insurance checks, U.S money orders, traveler's checks, Western Union checks as well as payroll checks issued by authorized government contractors and other non-appropriated fund agencies.

AAFES public affairs reporter Staff Sgt. Mark Matthews contributed to this story.