Embassy of Switzerland in the United States of

America

Where to Exchange Old or Damaged Swiss Bank Notes

In Switzerland, exchanging your damaged or recalled, but still exchangeable Swiss bank
notes is easy and free of charge. You can do so at an office of the Swiss National Bank SNB
(in Zurich, Bern, and Geneva). Current bank notes which are severely damaged may be
exchanged if the series and numbers are recognizable and the holder presents a part larger
than half or proves that the missing part has been destroyed.

If you are not planning to go to Switzerland, you can send the notes by mail to:
Swiss National Bank
Administration
Bundesplatz 1
CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland

We will transfer the counter value of the recalled bank notes to your bank or postal account.
Please provide us with your exact mailing address. To transfer the amount to your account
and to avoid any possible charges, or at least to reduce them, we need the following additional
details:
Switzerland: Your address (last name, first name, address) as well the number of either a
bank account held in your name and/or an IBAN*, with the exact address of the bank holding
the account (possibly BC no.**) 1
Europe: Your address (last name, first name, address, country) as well as an IBAN* held in
your name with the BIC code*** (SWIFT address) of the bank holding the account.
Other countries: Your address (last name, first name, address, country) as well as the number
of a bank account held in your name with the address and BIC code*** of the bank holding
the account
If you have questions concerning the required details, please contact the bank holding your
account.
In exceptional cases and upon request, we are able to send you the counter value of the
recalled bank notes by mail in the form of valid bank notes or a check made payable to your
name. Please note that shipment of cash in Switzerland is insured only up to the amount of
CHF 500. No liability is assumed for shipment abroad. The recipient bears the risk (in
Switzerland, for amounts larger than CHF 500; abroad for any amount) arising from
shipment.

* IBAN = International Bank Account Number

** BC no. = Bank Clearing number
*** BIC = Bank Identifier Code

2900 Cathedral Ave. NW

Washington, D.C. 20008-3499
Phone: (202) 745 7900, Fax: (202) 387 2564
was.vertretung@eda.admin.ch, www.swissemb.org
Recalled, but still exchangeable bank notes
The bank notes listed below have been recalled and effective May 1, 2000, are no longer legal
tender. They can still be exchanged at the SNB, however, at full nominal value for 20 years
from the date of recall, that is, until April 30, 2020.
10 franc: reddish brown, Leonhard Euler / water turbine
20 franc: light blue, Horace Bénédict de Saussure / mountain range
50 franc: green, Konrad Gessner / eagle owl
100 franc: dark blue, Francesco Borromini / San Ivo dome tower
500 franc: brown, Albrecht von Haller / muscular figure
1,000 franc: purple, Auguste Forrel / three ants

Valueless bank notes

The bank notes listed below--the old 5-franc note and bank notes issued between 1956 and
1978 and all bank notes issued prior to that--have been recalled by the SNB and can no longer
be exchanged. They may have collector value provided they are in good condition.
5 franc: greenish brown, William Tell (front) / 5 (back)
10 franc: brownish red, Gottfried Keller / bennet blossoms
20 franc: light blue, General Dufour / thistle
50 franc: green, girl’s head / apple harvest
100 franc: dark blue, boy’s head / Saint Martin
500 franc: reddish brown, woman’s head / fountain of youth
1,000 franc: purple, woman’s head / danse macabre

The Embassy of Switzerland does not exchange bank notes.

Links:
Current Banknotes
Swiss National Bank

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