The times they are a changin' at Chase Bank.

As of July 1, all of Chase's Illinois branches, including its Highland Park location at 513 Central Ave., will discontinue coin-counting service for customers, according to a spokeswoman.

Highland Park resident Margo Gordon, a Chase customer, gave no quarter in her disappointment with the news.

"It's annoying," she said. "The bank is already profiting off our money. The least they can do is offer this service to their loyal customers."

Pam Mashure, a Chase customer from Bartlett who was recently in Highland Park to attend the Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga concert at Ravinia, said she, too, was disappointed.

"It's sad. It was a nice service," Mashure said. "I'll have to get my coins in."

But don't toss your piggy banks or empty cookie jars yet. Chase branches will still deposit coins, but they they must be in wrappers (for individuals) or in tamper-evident coin bags (for businesses), according to Christine Holevas, a spokeswoman for JPMorgan Chase.

"We will accept small amounts of coins (value is less than a full roll) and are giving out the wrappers," Holevas wrote in an email.

Discontinuing use of the coin-counting machines is "a national initiative," Holevas said, adding that Illinois was one of the last states in which the service was being offered.

She said the machines tend to break down and slow service to customers.

Other area banks do offer coin-counting services, but only for customers with accounts. They include Citi Bank, 2011 2nd St., Highland Park; First Bank of Highland Park, 1835 1st St., Highland Park; and First Midwest Bank, 725 Waukegan Road, Deerfield.

Some local banks, seizing a customer service opportunity, will count coins at no charge even for noncustomers.

"It's a courtesy," said Yuri Sorrentino, a personal banker at Highland Park Bank and Trust, 1949 St. Johns Ave. "We're very service-oriented. We help everybody."

Not that Highland Park Bank and Trust's machines are immune to breakdowns. Inadvertently collected noncoin objects or foreign coins have played havoc with its machines, said Emilio Rivera, a personal banking officer.

"Plastic toy key rings, mints, anything round," he said with a laugh.

Bank of Highwood-Fort Sheridan, 507 Sheridan Road, as well as Deerfield Bank & Trust, 660 Deerfield Road, also will count coins for noncustomers.

Another option is Coinstar grocery store kiosks, but they carry a charge of at least 10 percent for the service.

Donald Liebenson is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.