KANSAS CITY FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
A KANSAS CITY GEM
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KANSAS CITY FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
A KANSAS CITY GEM
VISITING KANSAS CITY? CHECK OUT THE BANK. THE NATION’S BANK THAT IS
The Nation’s Bank – Kansas City is home to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. The Federal Reserve System provides financial and payments services for the nation and banking institutions. The “Fed” is comprised of twelve Regional Reserve Banks, one of which is located in Kansas City, Missouri. 
The Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank is located at 1 Memorial Drive on a hilltop adjacent to Liberty Memorial, and The National World War 1 Museum and very near other Kansas City landmarks including Union Station and Hallmark Crown Center. 
Kansas City’s Federal Reserve Bank serves the Tenth Federal Reserve District, which includes western Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Colorado & northern New Mexico. Among other functions, the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank is responsible for receiving newly printed bills and newly minted coins and distributing them to regional banks. Currency is stored in the Fed’s vault on large pallets each holding $640,00 in currency. In all, the vault holds $138 billion. Incoming older currency is processed and inspected at the Fed where bills that are worn or unsuitable for further circulation are shredded.
Visit The Fed – You may be surprised to learn that you can actually visit the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank. But be aware – this bank does not offer standard banking services to the public. It’s not the place to cash a check or make a deposit.
- Visitor HOURS – 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. / Monday -Friday
- Closed on weekends (and of course – Bank Holidays)
- Admission? No – It’s FREE!
Visitors to the bank first pass through a brief screening process, very similar to airport security. Valid Photo ID is required and visitors and their belongings may be subject to visual and / or x-ray screening. Photography is allowed in some areas but restricted in others.
Once past security you enter the first floor visitor area – The Money Museum. (Access to other areas is restricted.) Various displays explain the Fed’s role in monetary policy and currency flow. The Truman Coin Collection is also on display which is on extended loan from the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum. The collection presents “nearly one coin of each denomination issued by the U.S. Mint during most presidential administrations beginning with George Washington.” Another display allows you to test your strength by lifting, with one hand, a gold bar weighing more than 27 pounds.
Visitors can view The Cash Vault (through a glass wall) and watch robotic fork lifts move and store pallets full of currency bundles. Another view allows visitors to watch employees sorting, inspecting and bundling currency. Unfortunately, no photography is allowed at those points so a photo view from the end of the hallway was the best I could obtain. 
Portions of the second floor contain meeting rooms and conference areas and are, at times, available to the public. 
Hallways on the second floor are decorated with some very interesting posters reflecting monetary history of the U.S. as well as some interesting works depicting the Kansas City area as well as it’s jazz history. 
The KC Federal Reserve Gift Shop – What’s a museum without a gift shop? The Fed has one also where you can pick up a memento of your monetary stop over. 
Free Samples! Yes, you read that correctly. The Federal Reserve Bank actually gives free samples (one per visitor please ). Free Money – Now That’s What I’m Talking About! 
Yes indeed! Each visitor gets a small bag of money. Just help yourself. It’s totally shredded beyond all recognition of course. Still – Free is Good – Right? 
The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and it’s Money Museum are truly Gems of Kansas City. It’s a very unique experience. No appointment is necessary. A visit takes between 30 minutes and 1 hour and can easily be combined with visits to other city landmarks nearby as mentioned above. Check it out. AND DON’T FORGET YOUR FREE MONEY!
Visit The Fed in Kansas City …….. And Enjoy The Adventure!
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