What if you have damaged bank notes?

If you have unusable tickets due to their condition (damaged, stained, torn, partially burned...), do you know that you can exchange them for new tickets or get them refunded? The procedure is free of charge and there is no limit on the amount.

How to proceed?

You have several possibilities.

• If the note is still intact on more than half of its surface and the damage remains slight, you can deposit it in a recycling machine (ATMs with the dual function Deposit and Withdrawal) of the network of the bank holding your account or one of its partners. You will then be credited immediately.
• If the note is very damaged and its deposit in an ATM could damage it even more, you can contact the Banque de France (39 rue Croix-des-Petits-Champs, 75001 Paris). The exchange request must be made at the counter in the presence of the applicant. It is forbidden to send tickets by post.

Once the damaged banknotes have been assessed, genuine banknotes with a remaining surface area greater than 50% of the original surface area of the banknote will be refunded:

• by immediate exchange for new banknotes if the banknotes can be counted at the counter;
• or by deferred refund by bank transfer if the tickets have to be sent to a center of expertise.

It is temporarily no longer possible to visit the offices of La Poste, as the contract between the Banque de France and La Poste expires on 21 March 2026. Beyond this date, La Poste no longer takes any refund request for damaged tickets. An alternative solution must be put in place by June 2026.

Required documents to be provided to receive an exchange or refund

The depositor, or the beneficiary if different from the depositor, shall submit the following documents:

• a valid piece of identification (for legal persons, the original or copy of any official deed or extract from the register that is less than 3 months old. The natural person who comes to carry out the transaction on behalf of the legal person must appear on this document and present an identity document);
• the bank identity statement (RIB) with the IBAN of the beneficiary;
• proof of the origin of the funds: this document is not mandatory if the exchange request is made to the Post Office, but the Bank of France reserves the right to request it. The following documents may be submitted: last income tax notice, bank account statements, certified mail confirming a cash withdrawal or any other official proof.