Banknotes and coins

Damaged and defective banknotes

Although the paper on which the banknotes are printed is highly resistant, being 100% cotton, normal use eventually leads to their becoming worn and soiled. Furthermore, banknotes sometimes lose part of their surface or some of their features due to tearing, damp, fire, etc. .

Although the Banco de España periodically replaces banknotes to maintain their quality, anyone in possession of a worn or soiled banknote may present it at a branch of the Banco de España, or at a credit institution for inspection and subsequent replacement by a new one.

As a general rule, it will be replaced if more than half the original surface of the banknote is presented, or if it can be shown that the missing part has been destroyed. Stained, soiled, torn or defaced banknotes, once inspected, can be exchanged for new banknotes of the same value. Another option is for the person presenting the spoiled notes to have the amount credited to a current account with a financial institution of his/her choice.

The exchange of damaged banknotes through the activation of antitheft devices, presented by professional clients (credit institutions, cash transport companies and bureaux de change), is subject to a commission of ten cents per banknote, if the number of banknotes exchanged is equal to or more than one hundred. In this case, the amount of the commission will be the result of multiplying the unit charge by the total number of banknotes exchanged. No commission will be charged when the banknotes have been damaged as a result of actual or attempted robbery, extreme situations which shall be evidenced by means of a photocopy of the report made to the police or judicial authorities.

Moreover, in the exceptional event that a banknote has a production defect, it can be exchanged upon presentation under similar conditions at any branch of the Banco de España or through a credit institution.