Kwik Trip/Kwik Star Rounding Down Cash Payments Ahead Of Penny’s End

Well, it’s official: the humble penny is about to clock out of the U.S. currency system, for good.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced in May that it plans to stop minting new pennies starting in January 2026. Why? Because it costs more to make a penny than a penny is worth. Yep, it literally makes no "cents" any longer to produce them!

Don’t hit the panic button, penny lovers, your dusty jar of copper coins still counts as legal tender. You can continue to spend them, stack them, or toss them into fountains while making questionable wishes. But over time, the supply of pennies in circulation will dwindle faster than Blockbuster memberships.

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Kwik Trip, or Kwik Star as their known in places like South Dakota, isn’t waiting around for 2026. They're getting ahead of the penny elimination curve. According to Dakota News Now, the convenience store chain announced on Thursday, October 2, that it’s kicking the penny to the curb in all 900 of its locations.

That’s right. No more fishing for exact change or digging in your car’s cup holder for that elusive copper Abe Lincoln. Kwik Trip/Kwik Star is going penny-free.

What Happens at the Register?

The new policy could actually save you a little cash. The company says it will round down all cash transactions to the nearest five cents. So if your total is $1.04, you’ll only pay a buck. Congrats, you just made four cents! Don’t spend it all in one place.

But here’s the fine print: this only applies to cash transactions. If you’re swiping a card or paying digitally, the total remains the same. That $1.04 purchase is still gonna be $1.04 on your debit or credit card. Sorry, no rounding down magic there.

When Does It Start?

Kwik Trip/Kwik Star will begin implementing the penny purge as supplies run out. So the timing might vary by location; some stores will go penniless sooner than others.

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The popular C-Store chain across the Midwest in states like Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, northern Michigan, and South Dakota, is making this move not just for convenience, but also to get ahead of the inevitable.

The penny has had a good run. But like payphones, Pontiacs, and pagers, it’s time to say goodbye.

So next time you're in a Kwik Trip/Kwik Star grabbing one of their addictive donuts and some coffee, remember to observe a moment of silence for the penny, then celebrate the fact that your pockets just got a little lighter.

Source: Dakota News Now