Where can I change a damaged banknote. What to do with torn banknotes

12.04.2019 alternative energy

If the banknote is preserved by at least 55% of its original area, if it is damaged due to thermal effects or was glued together from fragments of different banknotes - in all these cases, the exchange is possible, and all commercial Russian banks are required to exchange damaged banknotes. The bank may refuse the procedure only if the banknote was found to be fake, and also if it was damaged too much (in accordance with the Directive of the Bank of Russia of December 26, 2006). Remember - replacement of torn Russian banknotes with new ones should be completely free of charge.

Everyone sometimes encounters a situation where, instead of a more or less fresh banknote, an ATM gives out worn, shabby 100 rubles, or even a banknote of a larger denomination - 1000, 2000 or 5000 rubles. In such a situation, it seems that nothing else can be done with money. Cashiers in stores that are not familiar with the legislation of the Russian Federation may even refuse to accept such a bill for payment. In fact, the use of even dilapidated banknotes is legal.

The procedure for determining the degree of depreciation of a banknote, as well as the possibility of exchange, are regulated in detail in the “Instruction of the Bank of Russia dated December 26, 2006” 1778-U. In the same Direction, an answer is given whether it is possible to exchange a torn banknote at a bank.

According to clause 1 of the Directive, a banknote should be accepted as payment if it has signs of solvency. In pp. 1.1 Instructions A detailed explanation of what is considered solvency is given: slight wear, punctures in the banknote, extraneous inscriptions, lack of edges on the banknote, spots.

Paragraph 2 of the Directive regulates the cases in which damaged banknotes can be exchanged at a bank:

  • If the bill has retained at least 55% of its original area. The remaining fragment must retain the banknote number;
  • If the banknote was damaged, but then glued. All fragments must be from one banknote with one identification number;
  • If the banknote is glued together from different fragments of the same denomination. The banknote should show that it is glued together (that is, there should be a graphical difference between the fragments). In this case, fragments from two bills should be halves of each other;
  • If there was a manufacturing defect.

Damaged banknotes will later go to the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, where all the country's financial flows are ultimately sent. If the banknote does not comply with the above rules, the exchange is not possible. The procedure does not start in the following cases:

  • Less than 55% of the original area of ​​the banknote has been preserved;
  • The banknote is glued together from different fragments, while the fragments from one banknote make up less than 55% of the area of ​​the same banknote;
  • The banknote has only one side (front or back) preserved;
  • The word “Sample” is written on the banknote, which means that the banknote is not intended for circulation.

How and where can I change a torn banknote?

So, we have come to the main question - how to exchange a torn banknote at Sberbank or at any other bank? In accordance with the above Instruction, the exchange can be made at the cash desk of any Russian bank, including the largest ones - Sberbank, VTB-24, etc.

All that is needed is to personally appear at any territorial branch of a commercial bank, present a banknote to an employee and ask to exchange it for a new one. You don't even need a passport to complete the operation.

Reference: if you need to change a significantly torn banknote (where, for example, exactly 45% of the original area is missing), it is better to take your passport with you - most likely you will have to write an application for an examination.

If a bank employee considers the banknote to be in accordance with the exchange rules, he will immediately give you a new one. Otherwise, he will turn to higher management. In the most extreme case, you will have to write an application for an examination.

Can a bank refuse an exchange?

We have already figured out how to change a torn bill at Sberbank or any other organization, but what if the bill is in too bad condition? Can the bank replace the banknote in this case?

The Bank may refuse only in two cases - if the banknote is not subject to exchange in accordance with the Instruction or there are pronounced signs of forgery. In the second case, the banknote is recognized as counterfeit and withdrawn, and its owner may be brought to administrative or even criminal liability.

Doubt on the part of an employee of the organization often arises if the banknote almost satisfies the requirements of the Instruction, but does not quite comply with them - say, the banknote has been preserved by 54%, and not by the minimum 55% of its original area. It is also assigned if the employee fails to immediately determine the authenticity of the banknote - in particular, if the bill is glued together from many fragments.

The examination takes place as follows:

  1. The citizen writes a statement. Bank employees will give the company's letterhead, as well as advise the applicant in the process of filling out. The application must indicate the number of banknotes subjected to examination, as well as the condition of the banknotes. It is allowed to explain how exactly the citizen ruined the banknote (if this happened through his fault);
  2. A description is made of the item to be handed over. A copy of the application with the seal of the institution and the signature of the employee is transferred to the applicant;
  3. After 5-10 days, according to the contact details left in the application, the applicant is contacted. If the answer is positive, the money can be picked up at a bank branch or received to a current account; if the answer is negative, the banknote with the appropriate stamp is returned to the applicant.

Will I be charged a commission for the exchange?

There is no fee for changing the national currency. Any attempt by the bank to take money for this service is punishable by law. Until 2010, the cost of the examination fell on the shoulders of the applicant, but now, if the applicant changes Russian rubles The procedure is absolutely free. In addition, since 2014, the requirement for mandatory examination before the exchange of banknotes has been discontinued.

If, when exchanging money or when appointing an examination, a bank employee requires you to pay a commission in advance (or upon the provision of services), you can file a complaint against him with the Central Bank of the Russian Federation or the bank's management. You will have the right to do so, since charging a commission in this case is an illegal action.

The nuances of the exchange of spoiled dollars and euros

Regarding the exchange of damaged currencies, the Central Bank did not issue any resolutions or instructions. Accordingly, the exchange process is regulated exclusively by the bank where the applicant applied. The bank may refuse to exchange a banknote if it appears to it to be significantly damaged. In addition, many Russian banks simply do not offer services specifically for the exchange of a torn foreign banknote for a whole one.

Therefore, a bank employee can offer several options:

  • Replace foreign currency with Russian rubles;
  • Transfer money to your settlement or deposit account after currency conversion in accordance with the current exchange rate;
  • The so-called "collection". The money is sent by collection to the country where the banknote was issued. The process can take years, and you still have to pay a commission for using the service.

Please note that all transactions are carried out with a commission - as a rule, 3-12% of the face value of foreign funds. If the bill is badly damaged, the bank may set an increased commission or even refuse service.

If your banknotes are accidentally torn, throwing them away is not the most pleasant option, especially if the amount is large. In this review, we will consider what to do if there is torn money in your wallet and whether it can be exchanged for new ones.

A torn banknote can get into your wallet in a completely random way, for example, you didn’t notice the change in the store, or maybe you yourself became the reason for this. In such cases, use the following methods to correct the situation:

  • in case of minor damage, the banknote is glued together with adhesive tape;
  • if the bill is badly torn, then you should contact the bank branch and replace the money.

In addition, at minor injuries You can use an ATM to deposit money on a plastic card. Some devices accept slightly torn or slightly wrinkled money.

Do shops and ATMs accept torn money?

As directed by the Central Bank Russian Federation“On the signs of solvency and the rules for the exchange of banknotes and coins of the Bank of Russia”, the store is obliged to accept money if the bill has minor damage, that is, it has 1 degree of dilapidation. At the same time, one can often observe such a picture when the seller, despite minor damage, refuses to accept money. This is fundamentally illegal and, in addition to the Directive of the Central Bank, violates the Civil Code, namely Articles 426 and 445.

The legislation does not provide for any punishment for refusing to accept damaged funds for payment.

The following damages are established by law, in which you cannot be refused acceptance of a banknote as a means of payment:

  • tear, pollution;
  • holes and abrasions;
  • punctures;
  • wear;
  • stains, extraneous inscriptions;
  • lack of edges and corners.

As for the ATM, here it can accept a bill, or maybe not. Everything depends on her physical condition. The point is that the ATM automatic mode checks the condition, and if there are damages, it can return it back. In such cases, you should contact the bank branch and exchange the torn banknote.

What money can be changed in a bank

Of course, the bank will not undertake the exchange of all damaged banknotes. The following money is to be replaced:

  • not having signs of forgery;
  • having 55% of the original area, that is, half must be intact;
  • glued from several fragments;
  • changed color, but retained the image;
  • having a manufacturing defect.

In the presence of the above conditions, you can safely go to the bank branch and exchange money. They can be replaced immediately in your presence with a banknote of the same denomination. Or, in case of significant damage, they are sent for examination, which determines the possibility of compensation. The final decision is made at the bank office.

Examination for verification Money is carried out as follows:

  • the client fills out an application;
  • money is sent for examination within 5 working days;
  • the examination procedure itself is carried out (approximately 5 working days);
  • in case of a positive decision, an exchange of money takes place.

Examination for the authenticity of money can be paid - both as a percentage of the amount, and fixed for a banknote.

How to change damaged banknotes in Sberbank

Sberbank, the most common bank in our country, has the most branches. Therefore, it is convenient to make an exchange here. To replace damaged money in Sberbank, you should follow a few simple steps:

  • go to the branch of Sberbank;
  • provide the employee with a torn banknote;
  • in case of minor damage, the money will be replaced;
  • otherwise, the funds will be sent for examination (10 working days);
  • at positive decision get new money paper form or to a checking account.

When exchanging rubles, Sberbank does not take a commission. If it's a currency, then financial institution payment for the service is 10% of the denomination at the internal exchange rate of Sberbank.

Features of replacing dollars and euros

Replacing dollars and euros does not differ in procedure from the exchange of ruble bills. The only point is that no commission is charged when exchanging a national banknote, but there is one from the currency. Therefore, in money you will lose a little, but still it is better than losing the entire amount.

Conditions for currency exchange are as follows:

  • authenticity of money;
  • more than half of the bill must remain intact;
  • it is assumed that paper money is glued together from several fragments.

If you have torn money, do not hesitate to go to the bank. This is a common financial procedure that will help you get new banknotes and thus save money.

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Paper banknotes and coins for a long time have been in use, can be quite worn out and damaged. In addition, banknotes can be damaged in another way: for example, by washing them, accidentally tearing them, etc. Do not think that after that your money is irretrievably lost - they can always be exchanged at the bank for new ones. This article will focus on cases in which credit organizations issue new banknotes to replace worn and damaged ones, and how this procedure is performed.

So, you are the owner of damaged or badly worn bills and want to know if they can be exchanged. Let's start with the fact that stores are required to accept crumpled, “washed” banknotes, banknotes with small gaps or minor extraneous inscriptions that do not interfere with determining the denomination and authenticity as a means of payment.

All damaged banknotes that came out of circulation must be handed over to the bank for exchange. If you are given change by a torn or otherwise damaged banknote, feel free to demand a replacement.

However, if the bill is damaged so much that the sellers refuse it, you can contact any bank for the purpose of exchange. Employees of a credit institution will immediately exchange banknotes if:

  • The banknote has sealed tears;
  • The banknote has punctures, abrasions, inscriptions, dirt, which do not interfere with determining the serial number and denomination;
  • The bill "lost" up to a third of its area (the edges were torn off), but the series and number were not damaged;
  • The banknote is glued together from several parts that undoubtedly belong to her.

There are situations in which the bank accepts a banknote, but an instant exchange is not possible. These include cases where additional examination of a dilapidated banknote is required:

  • The cashier had doubts that the glued parts belong to the same bill;
  • The banknote has lost more than 30 (but less than 50) percent of the area;
  • Damage (scuffs, tears, punctures, inscriptions) affected the series and number of the banknote, which is why it is not readable.

If you hand over a torn bill to the bank (and this is the most common case of exchange), you can find out in advance whether it will be exchanged or not. To do this, you need to determine the lost percentage of the area. Make a full-size banknote mock-up out of paper by drawing it at 200 equal squares. Then put the remaining part of the bill on the blank and circle the cells that it occupies. By dividing the number of filled cells by 2, you will find out how many percent the area of ​​the damaged bill occupies from the whole one. If this value exceeds 50, feel free to contact the bank to exchange banknotes.

What banknotes will the bank not accept for exchange?

There are times when the bank will immediately refuse to issue new banknotes to replace the damaged ones. There are only three of them:

  • On the banknote there is an inscription "Sample", moreover, made in a typographical way. If this word is written by hand, it is not a reason for refusal.
  • The banknote was withdrawn from circulation by the time of the visit to the bank. For example, the exchange of denominated money ended in 2002, and it will not be possible to carry out the exchange of banknotes of the sample of 95 years.
  • The banknote has lost more than 50% of its area. If the banknote is torn, you can exchange only one - large - half, or glue the pieces together.

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Where are damaged banknotes exchanged?

When it comes to the need for an exchange, most owners of damaged banknotes sent to Sberbank, mistakenly believing that only there you can replace banknotes for free. In fact, this procedure can be performed at any commercial bank..

The exchange of damaged banknotes is regulated by the legislation of the Russian Federation. The text of the Federal Law contains the wording "credit organizations" - this means that the exchange is carried out by any bank registered in the country and having state accreditation. This includes those institutions that are considered "public" and private banks. Any of them is obliged to exchange damaged banknotes free of charge during the visit of the client.

If you do not want to spend money on a visit to the bank, you can try to pay damaged banknote in transport, shop. Torn and sealed banknotes are quite successfully accepted by ATMs and terminals. But in this case, it is worth sealing the gaps with glue and tracing paper, and not with tape.

Procedure for exchanging damaged banknotes

Consider how the procedure for exchanging a damaged banknote in a bank takes place:

  • Determine for yourself whether the banknote is subject to replacement.
  • Contact any branch of the bank of your choice, taking with you a damaged banknote and passport.
  • The exchange, as a rule, is made directly at the box office. Give the banknote and your document to the cashier for inspection.
  • Fill out an application for an exchange and, if necessary, leave a banknote for examination. Note that the mandatory examination was canceled several years ago, and additional analysis is prescribed only in certain cases. In all other situations, the exchange occurs immediately at the first call.
  • After an inspection by a cashier or an examination, you are given a new bill, and the damaged one is confiscated. At the same time, it should be remembered that the procedure should be absolutely free - it is illegal for the bank to charge money for the exchange of banknotes.
  • If the authenticity of the bill could not be established, it will be returned to you with a corresponding mark. If you disagree with the refusal, you have the right to contact another bank for the purpose of exchange or write a statement on the website of the Central Bank.

Can damaged currency be exchanged?

So far, we have been talking about the exchange of Russian money. However, there are cases when the currency is damaged - dollars, euros, other banknotes. You can also exchange them, but there are some nuances that need to be taken into account:

  • Can be exchanged not in every bank. Russian legislation does not apply to the replacement of such banknotes, and each bank itself determines whether it will carry out the procedure. Most of the large banks exchange dollars and euros, in some it is also possible to replace the currency of neighboring countries, pounds, crowns. As for rare and exotic currencies, with a high degree of probability you will not be able to find a bank in Russia to exchange them.
  • The procedure is paid. First, this additional service jar. Secondly, the bank will also have to pay for the expertise of the Central Bank. The commission can be from 3 to 10% of the face value.
  • The exchange process may take longer.. Depending on the complexity, the examination ranges from several days to a month.
  • banknote requirements may differ from those applied to the Russian currency.

It probably happened to each of us that we accidentally came across torn banknotes or we completely forgot them in our pockets and washed them along with things in washing machine. Not every store will undertake to accept such money for payment, and an ATM will refuse to “swallow” it at all. So, what to do and is it possible to change damaged banknotes in such cases?

Of course, the most in a simple way they will exchange the bill, and get rid of it altogether, for example, giving it away for travel in a minibus or bus. Many private retail shops can also accept moderately spoiled money. If you can glue the torn parts of the bill, then it is better to do it with ordinary tape.

If suddenly, the bill is torn very badly and you still refuse to accept it anywhere, then you need to contact the Sberbank branch. Do not forget to take all the parts from the torn banknote and your passport, and then go directly to the bank's cash desk.

It should be remembered! Sberbank will be able to accept damaged banknotes only if the identification number is preserved on the banknote. That is, if suddenly your banknote is torn, and the piece on which this number was applied is lost, then the bank will not be able to help you.

Also, banknotes will not be subject to exchange if there is left of it less 55% (only one half of the money).

At Sberbank, you can also exchange banknotes that were accidentally washed or stained with dirt, ink, or the edges were slightly burnt (this also happens).

Often you have to deal with the fact that in the wallet there was a torn bill or sealed, but in such a way that it is not accepted in the store. It also happens that we ourselves will spoil the banknote, stain it with paint or accidentally tear it.

It’s not a big deal if it’s one and a small bill, but what if you washed clothes that contained banknotes for a decent amount? In both cases, torn, damaged banknotes of Russian rubles can be exchanged at any bank, receiving new banknotes in return and without paying any interest. The exchange of banknotes is quick and simple, but subject to certain requirements.

Should I take torn banknotes in the store?

How many times many of us have had to quarrel in a store with a seller who does not want to take not only a torn bill, but even a banknote with small cut or in a rush, neatly sealed with tape.

Should I take damaged banknotes in stores? Must, if they have minor defects: small scuffs, dirt; small glued pieces; small colorful or oil stains; extraneous inscriptions, lost corners and edges; small punctures, holes. But sometimes, it’s much easier to go to a bank nearby and give such a banknote to a bank teller without further ado than to prove to a store cashier that banknotes with small defects they are required to accept from buyers. According to the rules, after the collection of the store's proceeds, the bank employees themselves will exchange and withdraw it from circulation.

In any bank, torn banknotes and damaged coins of Russian rubles are exchanged without a passport and without commission. Even a half of a banknote is enough for an exchange, more precisely, a section of at least 55% of a whole banknote. Even burnt or heavily stained banknotes will be exchanged for you without asking any questions.

Banks are interested in withdrawing such banknotes and coins from circulation. In addition to the aesthetic side, there is also a purely technical one. Banknotes are counted by automatic counting devices, and they "do not like" them. Maybe that's why sellers are so reluctant to take them?

In addition, ATMs and terminals, which have so rapidly entered our lives, are also designed to accept "normal" banknotes. Remember how many times you had to insert the same "old" bill into the terminal, straighten its corners, unfold the other edge until it takes it.

There are cases when banks do not take them for exchange, or rather they will take them away, but they will not give you new banknotes in return. But mostly these are heavily damaged banknotes, without signs of the bank name, number, series, etc. As a rule, if the bank teller can visually determine the authenticity of the banknote, then the exchange is made immediately.

If there are certain doubts, then the bills will be sent for a free banking examination, and you will receive the money in a couple of days. In the same case, if a free examination is not enough, then a special examination is carried out at the Central Bank, which may take several months. You will have to pay for such an examination.

Torn, spoiled Russian rubles up to 15,000 rubles are exchanged at a bank without a passport. Amounts exceeding this limit are documented and only if you have a passport.

The exchange of damaged coins is also carried out at the bank's cash desk. Coins can be bent in any way, but it is obligatory to have a preserved image on the obverse and reverse (sides of the coin).

How to exchange torn, damaged foreign banknotes

Damaged foreign banknotes can also be exchanged at the bank, but not any and not for free. Banks can exchange dollars, pounds, euros, currencies of neighboring countries. But torn banknotes from some exotic country cannot be exchanged, since the bank simply does not have such a currency.

Why is a commission required for the exchange of damaged foreign banknotes? Because the examination sometimes has to be carried out in the bank that owns the given currency, while incurring certain financial costs. That is why the exchange of damaged, torn foreign currency bills can be delayed for months of waiting.

The commission for the exchange of a damaged foreign banknote, as a rule, is 3 - 10% of the transaction amount. For torn, damaged banknotes of various foreign banks, there are their own rules and conditions for the exchange. For example, a euro bill must have total area not less than 50% of the banknote, and for the banknote of the Belarusian "bunny" - 45%.

Publication date: 01/07/2013


Detailed instructions, determining the signs of the authenticity of banknotes of the Bank of Russia, are posted on the website of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation www.cbr.ru and in each branch of the bank there are visual materials in the form of brochures and posters.


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