The ninth banknote series
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) says that notes of 1000, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10 are in circulation. The ninth series replaced the eighth gradually between 2016 and 2019: the 50-franc note came first on 12 April 2016, the 1000-franc note last on 13 March 2019.
What the law says about cash
- Legal tenderBanknotes issued by the SNB are legal tender, and the coins issued by the Confederation too.
- Must be acceptedAccording to the SNB, everyone must accept Swiss banknotes in payment without restriction, as well as up to 100 regular coins.
- Contracts can differThe SNB calls this a rule that parties may change by agreement, so a shop can set its own payment terms in advance.
At the card terminal in francs
A Swiss terminal can offer you your home currency instead of francs. The EU's Your Europe portal says that paying in the local currency is often cheapest, and that the extra fees of the home currency often make it dearer. The trader has to tell you the exact extra, and you can decline.
Data on arrival
Switzerland is not part of the EU's roaming rules, so check your plan before you rely on it. An eSIM installed at home gives you data when you land. See our Switzerland eSIM guide and roaming costs outside the EU.
Questions and answers
Which Swiss franc banknotes are in circulation?
The SNB lists 1000, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10.
Must shops accept Swiss banknotes?
According to the SNB, everyone must accept Swiss banknotes in payment without restriction, unless the parties have agreed otherwise.
Should I pay in francs at a card terminal?
EU consumer guidance says the local currency is often the cheapest option, and you can always decline the conversion to your own currency.
Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue
How we check our data · Prices and plans come live from our catalogue; facts come from official sources, listed where we use them.
Sources: Swiss National Bank: The current banknote series · Swiss National Bank: Questions and answers on banknotes · Your Europe: Pricing and payments
