ACCOUNTING BANK QUESTIONS
1 What may be included under the heading of “cash”?
Cash normally consists of coins and currency on hand, bank deposits, and various kinds of orders for cash such as bank checks, money orders, travelers’ checks, demand bills of exchange, bank drafts, and cashiers’ checks. Balances on deposit in banks which are subject to immediate with-drawal are properly included in cash. Money market funds that provide checking account privileges may be classified as cash. There is some question as to whether deposits not subject to immediate withdrawal are properly included in cash or whether they should be set out separately. Savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and time deposits fall in this latter category. Unless restrictions on these kinds of deposits are such that they cannot be converted (withdrawn) within one year or the operating cycle of the entity, whichever is longer, they are properly classified as current assets. At the same time, they may well be
presented separately from other cash and the restrictions as to convertibility reported.
