What is Physical Sweeping?

Physical sweeping is the movement of cash from multiple bank accounts into a single concentration account. This is typically accomplished with a zero-balance account, from which a bank automatically sweeps all cash at the end of the day, and into a concentration account. If the zero-balance account has a debit balance at the time of the sweep, then the funds are shifted from the concentration account back into the account having the debit balance, until its balance is zero.

It is also possible to maintain a predetermined minimum balance in a subsidiary account, so that only cash levels above the designated level are swept into the concentration account.

Advantages of Physical Sweeping

There are several advantages to the use of physical sweeping, which are as follows:

More efficient investing. The concentration of cash results in more efficient investment activities; it may also allow a business to obtain a higher rate of return on its investments.
Less risk of loss. Moving cash out of outlying accounts eliminates the risk of fraud losses from these accounts, though you will need to impose strong controls over the concentration account in which the cash is stored.