I'm riding the bandwagon with all those who wished the ATMs gave $5's again. I am surprised some ATMs dispense $10s. What makes it even more strange is that some secured cash dispensers (not ATMs) at select RBC branches dispense all denominations excluding $10s back in the early 1990s. The CIBC applied this practice as well, until the $2 bill was being replaced with a coin. By April of 1996, many RBC and CIBC secured cash dispensers onsite (the ones the tellers retrieve a customer's money from) no longer dispensed $2s and as a result, $10s were being dispensed for the first time since 1991. However, some RBC branches resumed the practice of not loading $10s in their onsite cash dispensers as of 2005 or 2006, due to an all-time lower demand. It really is an inconvenience that RBC clients have to request $10s over the counter in order to get them - which is reason enough that if I want to get some $10s on a regular basis, Scotiabank is my friend.
Back to the original topic of this thread, the main reason as to why many RBC ATMs no longer dispense $5s is due to the fact that many such banknotes wear easily (as it is the lowest banknote denomination currently in circulation) and any not-so-great quality $5 bill loaded into the ATMs could damage the machine. $20s last longer since it is the middle denomination, and it is the most widely used banknote in Canada, and by being limited to just $20s in the ATMs, it would make the ATM's last longer and durable. The phaseout of the $5s in ATMs started around 1999 (depending on where you are), and the majority of ATMs in Canada have scrapped $5s in the ATMs by 2002 - around the same time as when the "original" Journey $5 bill at that time was first released.
It really is a shame as to how the RBC removes a frequently used denomination from its ATMs, but I see its point as to why it has to be done.
However, there are a few select machines mostly on university campuses where $10 notes are still dispensed. But this is getting more difficult to find these days.
You're right on the money there, coinsplus. It's like a "needle in a haystack." Not to mention that getting a $10 bill in my change today follows the same principle. The only places that I am almost guaranteed to get $10s are busier and larger bank branches - which explains why a bank in a frequently busy shopping district - like my neighbourhood Scotiabank, to name one - is my friend.
