Swiss banknotes from 1907 to the present day: here you can see every series issued by the Swiss National Bank, from the Hodler hundred to the note featuring a hand and a globe. And you’ll find out whether your old banknote is still worth anything.
Which old banknotes can you exchange?
Short: The Swiss National Bank (SNB) will exchange all banknotes from the 6th series onwards, issued in 1976, at their full face value. No expiry date. So an old CHF 1,000 note with ants on it is still worth CHF 1,000.
The SNB no longer redeems banknotes from Series 1 to 5. However, individual notes may still be of some value to collectors.
There’s more in drawers than you might think. By the end of April 2025, banknotes from the 6th series for around CHF 990 million. never returned. The SNB has distributed 90 per cent of it to the federal government, the cantons and the Fonds suisse. It is keeping the rest so that it can continue to exchange your banknotes.
| Series | Year | How to spot them | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series 10 | in the early 2030s at the earliest | «Switzerland and its high-altitude regions» | Under development |
| 9th series | 2016 | Hands and a globe, no people | Legal tender |
| Series 8 | 1995 | Portrait format, Le Corbusier, Honegger, Taeuber-Arp, Giacometti, Ramuz, Burckhardt | Unlimited exchangeability at the SNB |
| 7th series | 1984 | Spare set, later destroyed | Never spent |
| Series 6 | 1976 | Landscape format, Euler, de Saussure, Gessner, Borromini, von Haller, Forel | Unlimited exchangeability at the SNB |
| 5th series | 1956 | Gottfried Keller, General Dufour, Dance of Death on the Tausender | Can no longer be exchanged; may have collector’s value |
| 4th series | 1938 | Spare set, commissioned from Hans Erni and Victor Surbek during the Second World War | Never spent |
| Series 3 | 1918 | War Notes, Tell before the Jungfrau massif, Pestalozzi | Can no longer be exchanged; may have collector’s value |
| Series 2 | 1911 | *Woodcutters and Mowers* by Ferdinand Hodler, *Tell-Fünfer* | Can no longer be exchanged; may have collector’s value |
| Series 1 | 1907 | Helvetia, red rosette with the Swiss cross | Can no longer be exchanged; may have collector’s value |
Where can you exchange old banknotes?
Only the SNB is obliged to exchange currency. Here’s how you can get your money:
At the SNB counter. In Bern at Bundesplatz 1 or in Zurich at Börsenstrasse 15. You’ll receive banknotes from the current series. Check the opening hours in advance at snb.ch.
At an SNB agency. Several agencies operate cantonal banks. Some impose a maximum limit per exchange, so please enquire in advance.
As a deposit into your account. This isn’t an exchange, but it’s often the most convenient option. Many banks and the Post Office accept 8th series banknotes as a deposit into your own account. They are not obliged to do so, however. Check with your bank beforehand. For the 6th series, it’s best to go directly to the SNB.
In the case of larger sums, the SNB may ask where the money comes from. This is a measure to combat money laundering. Full details can be found in the SNB information sheet on currency exchange.
How long do you have to exchange it?
For the 6th and 8th series There is no deadline. Since 1 January 2020, the SNB has been exchanging recalled banknotes from the 6th series onwards for an indefinite period.
It used to be different. A banknote that had been recalled could still be exchanged for 20 years; after that, the SNB would no longer accept it. This is what happened to the 5th series: recalled in 1980, with the exchange period ending on 1 May 2000.
You can no longer pay with banknotes that have been recalled. No shop is obliged to accept them.
How much is an old banknote worth?
There are two values, and they have nothing to do with one another.
The face value is the amount printed on the note. The SNB pays this amount for banknotes from the 6th series onwards. That is all you can get for them, even for a 100-franc note in perfect condition.
Collectors’ value It depends on the condition, rarity and demand. The SNB does not value old banknotes and does not trade in them. If you have a banknote from Series 1 to 5, have it valued by a numismatist. If it is a rare item, it is worth getting a second opinion.
And then there’s purchasing power. For something that cost CHF 100 in 1976, you would have paid an average of around CHF 215 in 2025. You can calculate the figures for your own period using the Inflation calculator ...
What happens to damaged sheet music?
A 100-franc note in the washing machine isn’t a total loss. The SNB usually replaces damaged banknotes free of charge. It will work straight away if you can show more than half of the note and the serial number is legible. If any further details are missing or if the number is illegible, the SNB will assess your case on an individual basis.
You can hand in damaged banknotes at the counter or send them by post to the SNB in Bern using the claim form. The SNB will then transfer the equivalent value to your account. The SNB accepts no liability for items sent by post, so please ensure the banknote is well packaged. Further details can be found in the Information sheet on damaged banknotes.
How have the marks changed?
The SNB has printed nine series since 1907; seven of these were put into circulation. The first banknotes were borrowed: as the fledgling National Bank had no time to produce its own designs, it reprinted the templates used by the former central banks and stamped a red rosette on them. The copper plates came from London.
From 1911 onwards, Ferdinand Hodler painted for the National Bank. From 1976 onwards, the banknotes featured portraits of leading figures from the worlds of science and the arts; in 1995, these appeared in portrait format for the first time. With the 9th series, the portraits disappeared altogether. Today, hands and a globe symbolise time, light, wind, water, matter and language.
A series lasts on average 15 to 20 years. The banknotes are now printed by Orell Füssli in Zurich.
When will the new Swiss banknotes be issued?
The 10th series is in the works. Its theme: «Switzerland and its high-altitude regions», from the lowlands through the Mittelland, the Jura and the Pre-Alps to the high mountains. The design competition was won by the Lausanne-based firm Emphase. The colours will remain the same.
The new banknotes are being issued in the early 2030s at the earliest. The SNB’s Governing Board has the final say on the design, so it may still change. Until then, the 9th series remains in circulation.
Swiss banknotes: frequently asked questions
Can I still exchange old Swiss banknotes?
Yes, all banknotes from the 6th series onwards, issued in 1976. The SNB will exchange them at full face value without any time limit. It no longer accepts banknotes from series 1 to 5.
Where can I exchange old banknotes in Switzerland?
At the SNB counter in Bern or Zurich, and at its branches. Many banks and Swiss Post also accept notes from the 8th series as deposits into your own account.
Can I exchange old banknotes from abroad?
The SNB’s information sheet only mentions exchanging currency in person. If you are unable to travel to Switzerland, please contact the SNB’s cash desk to find out which option is available to you: bargeld@snb.ch.
How much is an old 100 or 1,000 worth?
From the 6th series onwards, they are worth exactly their face value; the SNB does not pay any more than that. For older notes, the collector’s market sets the price. Have them valued by a coin dealer.
Which Swiss banknotes are still valid?
Only the 9th series, which has been in circulation since 2016, is accepted as legal tender. You can only exchange the 6th and 8th series; you can no longer use them to pay for things.