This is normal for a minimalist wallet. The wallet only has four card capacity (including the outside pocket, but not what you can put in the inside slots behind the cards), so bear that in mind before purchasing. If your dollars are crisp then they will fit perfectly in this wallet. Otherwise, you will find it difficult to insert them correctly since the depth of the bill compartment is exactly the same as the bill height. It got annoying after a while, especially when trying to slip a check in there. The quality of the leather and stitching was quite good, but the leather was quite stiff. I really liked the easy access external pocket which I used for my travel map. Almost didn't let him go just because of that. But I sent mine back because there was probably extra glue in one of the inner pockets which made this card insanely difficult to get out. Now I'm looking at wallets that give me access to cards on the outside, with a compartment or two on the inside for bills, receipts, and paper cards. If I'm having trouble fitting my bills into a smaller wallet, I might as well fold them!