The National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) has announced an extension of the deadline for exchanging old banknotes, providing citizens with additional time to swap them for new ones. This decision was made on November 1, 2026, and extends the deadline for exchanging old banknotes at financial institutions until November 30, 2026. The exchange period at BNR headquarters and its branches will continue until March 1, 2027.
The old banknotes in question are those worth 500, 1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 Rwandan francs, which were withdrawn from circulation on February 2, 2026. Initially, the deadline for exchanging these banknotes at financial institutions was set for November 1, 2026, but BNR has extended this deadline to allow citizens sufficient time to exchange them. The banknotes that are still valid and can be exchanged are those printed in previous years.
According to BNR, citizens can exchange the old banknotes at financial institutions until November 30, 2026. After this date, the exchange will only be possible at the BNR headquarters in Kigali and its branches until March 1, 2027. After March 1, 2027, the exchange of these banknotes will cease, and citizens who still hold them will not be able to exchange them.
The banknotes that are affected by this decision include the 500 Rwandan franc banknote printed on July 1, 2004, and January 1, 2013. The 1,000 Rwandan franc banknote printed on July 1, 2004, and March 1, 2015, is also affected, as well as the 2,000 Rwandan franc banknote printed on October 31, 2007. The 5,000 Rwandan franc banknote printed on April 1, 2004, and February 1, 2009, is also included.
BNR has reminded citizens that these old banknotes are no longer in circulation and should be exchanged for new ones. The bank has urged citizens to be aware of the deadline and to exchange their old banknotes in time to avoid losing them. Not all old banknotes have been withdrawn from circulation, and some denominations printed in recent years are still valid.
The decision to extend the deadline was made to provide citizens with an opportunity to exchange their old banknotes for new ones in an easy and convenient manner. BNR has emphasized that citizens should take advantage of this extension to exchange their old banknotes and avoid any potential losses.
The exchange of old banknotes for new ones is part of BNR's efforts to maintain the stability and security of the financial system. The bank has encouraged citizens to cooperate with this process and to exchange their old banknotes in a timely manner.
Key points
- The National Bank of Rwanda has extended the deadline for exchanging old banknotes until November 30, 2026, at financial institutions and until March 1, 2027, at BNR headquarters and its branches.
