Don't be fooled by hoaxes! Banco de España only withdraws damaged banknotes. Nothing more

07/04/2025

Have you read that some banknotes are going to lose their value or be withdrawn? Don´t be alarmed, even if you´ve seen it on social media or some digital platform.

Frequently, hoaxes that appear to be truthful news are published, but they are false and have no bases in reality. The goal is to attract people to click on the news, drawn by the impact of the headline. This technique is known as "clickbait," which aims to spark the reader's curiosity at all costs to ensure they click on the link, thereby attracting more visits to a website or social network. This is done without concern for the consequences of spreading confusing or false information, with the aim of generating advertising revenue or improving the website's ranking.

One of these frequently repeated hoaxes is that the Banco de España will withdraw some banknotes or coins, even providing a date for it. These false news stories distort one of our daily activities related to cash, but they describe it under a headline that has no foundation. Let us explain: the Banco de España works daily to ensure that the cash you receive is of the highest quality. To achieve this, when banknotes and coins reach us through banks, we remove those that are damaged—those that are dirty or worn out—and replace them with new ones. We also exchange damaged banknotes or coins that citizens bring to our counters.

So, remember:

• The Banco de España has not ordered the withdrawal of any euro banknotes or coins.
• It is a hoax, even if it appears on seemingly reliable digital platforms.
• The Banco de España only withdraws counterfeit or damaged banknotes or coins.
• You can use all the banknotes and coins currently in circulation without any issues.
• The main cause of deterioration of a banknote or coin is everyday use.
• If you have a damage banknote, it does not lose its value. If you wish, we can exchange it for you. If not, we will replace it when it reaches the Banco de España through the usual banking channels.