The gold chip on students' ID+ cards is good for more than just laundry and vending machines.

For three years, many merchants have offered students the option of making purchases with Lion Cash downtown, but many students said they don't use the option.

A review of the Lion Cash program is under way and should be completed by the end of the semester, said Joel Weidner, associate director of information systems operations for Auxiliary and Business Services. The study is looking for ways to improve the program and make it as user-friendly as possible.

Businesses accepting Lion Cash vary from downtown eateries to retail and convenience stores. Establishments accepting Lion Cash as a payment option display a blue ID+ sticker, often along with the display of credit cards accepted.

"We attempt to make it as easy for customers as we can," said Norm Brown, manager of The Student Bookstore (SBS), 330 E. College Ave.

For off-campus students, using Lion Cash requires a trip to campus to add money to their cards. Students living on campus must use Lion Cash to do laundry in campus facilities. While money can be added at many locations, some students would rather spare the hassle.

"It's a pain to have to deposit cash on my card just to spend the same money," said Karen Powers (junior-secondary education). "I would rather use cash. If there was some kind of system where my parents could add money, then I would use it."

Having Lion Cash on one's card can also save a student from hassle, retailers said. While Lion Cash accounts for only a small percentage of sales at The Family Clothesline, 352-B E. College Ave., it sometimes helps complete the sale.

"It's helpful for people coming downtown that realize they don't have cash on them," said Robert Pass, manager of The Family Clothesline. While not the most popular payment option at the store, Lion Cash use has increased over the three years since the program started, he said.

Lion Cash works like a credit card from the businesses' end of the transaction. They pay a percentage of the total purchase each time Lion Cash is used, just like a credit card purchase. But, unlike a credit card, Lion Cash allows students to spend only the money available, preventing deficit spending, Pass said.

SBS sees increased Lion Cash usage at the beginning of each semester during the back-to-school rush, but use tapers off during the course of the semester, Brown said.

"We just wanted to make sure our customers have as many options as possible [to pay]," Brown said.

For eateries such as Irving's Bagels, 110 E. College Ave., Lion Cash is a more popular option. Manager Marley Stoner estimates Lion Cash purchases total $100 each day.

While she hasn't used it recently, Amanda Gold (sophomore-liberal arts) used Lion Cash last year at her favorite downtown eatery. This year, she takes advantage of more off-campus dining options that aren't downtown.

"I have my car up here this year so if I'm going to get food, I drive," Gold said. "It's easier than having to have change [for laundry] but I have a credit card so I just use that [for purchases]."

Of the $2 million spent during the last fiscal year on Lion Cash, $473,000 was at businesses not owned by Penn State, Weidner said.

An obvious drawback to the program is the risk of losing money. If a card with Lion Cash is lost or stolen, any money left on the card is also gone.

This might lead to students putting less money on the chip and using it less often. Weidner said the average purchase with Lion Cash is between $3.50 and $4.