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 of the network of the bank holding your account or of one of its partners (ATMs with the dual function Deposit and Withdrawal). 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.

In this second case, you can:

• or go to the Caisse de Paris (Banque de France branch) for an exchange with new notes. The physical presence of the customer is mandatory. The applicant must be a person of full age. He can deposit damaged notes on his behalf or on behalf of a third person (natural person or legal person). Damaged tickets will be assessed. Only genuine banknotes with a remaining surface area greater than 50% of the original surface area of the banknote shall be reimbursed ;
• or visit a post office in your department that has a partnership with the Banque de France. You will then have to complete a file, attach your bank notes and supporting documents. La Poste will send your request for reimbursement file to the Banque de France. Note that if you go through a post office, the delivery of tickets will be in increments of 5,000 € (if your tickets reach a higher amount, you will have to fill in several files).

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.