Kelley School of Business (at Indiana University) Assistant Professor of Marketing Helen Colby studied this effect, concluding that college students are less willing to purchase items when given a 100-dollar bill than five $20s. According to Colby, “If you spend money on a credit card, you get that same card back after the transaction. Spending a 100-dollar bill essentially destroys it.” Our 100-dollar bank notes survive for more than a decade in circulation, while our two lowest denominations in general use (1- and 5-, not the 2-dollar) wear out within 18 months. Maybe we should consider going in the other direction—reviving the 500-dollar bank note.