In our area, some banks and a local casino are looking for large amounts of coins. They will even pay interest if you bring some in.
Anybody know why the are looking for coins?

Because coins have been out of circulation with the "lockdown."

Community state Bank in Union Grove WI made the news recently.

they are paying 5 dollars on every hundred in change you bring in.

bring it in in a bucket or bag they run it through the sorter and it tallies up the total they pay 5 dollars on every 100.

I am sure they are passing the 5% on to stores that need coin rolls but it is doing something to solve the problem.

T7 there are a few reasons why, the US mints aren't producing to capacity, coin processing facilities like Brinks or Dunbar aren't running to capacity, stay at home orders have slowed foot traffic at coin star locations, and banks aren't really open taking loose change.

Pete, there was a time when I was serious about trying to assemble a set of a couple different coins through circulated change I'd routinely go through a quarter million dollars worth of change a year. At 5 percent return fee could have made out ok lol.

I got most of em. In giant pickle jars. I’m going to bury them and leave a treasure map behind.