Abstract: A system and method sterilizes cash exchanges. The system includes a sanitization system and a transaction station. The transaction station may any type of transaction station such as, but not limited to, a teller window, a vacuum air tube (VAT) station, or an automated teller machine (ATM). The transaction station includes a user access area. The user access area is the main access point for the user when executing a transaction. For example, the user access area can be a transaction drawer, a tubular container and a container-receiving pocket, or a user ATM interface. The sanitization system includes an ultraviolet light (UVL) device which is the primary means to sterilize a cash exchanged being executed by the user. The sanitization system also includes a covering mechanism which is used to enclose the user access area in order to prevent a user from being exposed to ultraviolet (UV) lighting.