--- title: "NBU continues replacement of 50 and 200 hryvnia banknotes: what to do with \"old\" bills" description: "The National Bank of Ukraine is systematically replacing 50 and 200 hryvnia banknotes of the 2003–2007 samples with 2014 sample bills. Old money remains a valid payment instrument, and there is no need to specially exchange it." date: 2026-11-11T07:59:03.009Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/nbu-replacement-50-200-hryvnia-banknotes tags: [ukraine, nbu, banknotes, hryvnia, cash, currency] author: "Darya Fomina" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # NBU continues replacement of 50 and 200 hryvnia banknotes: what to do with "old" bills ![Female hands holding and checking the authenticity of a 200 Ukrainian hryvnia banknote](https://xab.info/media/2026/11/11/nbu-zamena-banknot-50-i-200-griven/nbu-zamena-banknot-50-i-200-griven-1.webp) ## Key Points - Starting November 1, 2024, the NBU is gradually replacing 50 and 200 hryvnia banknotes of the 2003–2007 samples with 2014 sample bills. - Old 50 and 200 hryvnia bills remain a valid payment instrument, and there is no need to specially exchange them. - Since March 2, 2026, paper banknotes of 1, 2, 5, and 10 hryvnias have been withdrawn from circulation and replaced by coins; free exchange remains available. - The new 2000 hryvnia banknote will gradually replace worn bills of various denominations, not just 1000 hryvnias. The National Bank of Ukraine is continuing the scheduled replacement of old-sample 50 and 200 hryvnia banknotes. The regulator emphasizes that this is not a sudden withdrawal of money from circulation: it is a gradual, pre-announced process of updating cash. The NBU announced the start of replacing 50 and 200 hryvnia banknotes of the 2003–2007 samples back in October 2024, and the process itself started on November 1 of the same year. The regulator calls the purpose of this work the optimization of cash circulation and improving the quality of banknotes. ### How the replacement of 50 and 200 hryvnia bills is taking place Old banknotes are gradually being replaced by bills of the same denominations from the 2014 sample. During this process, banks stopped issuing old banknotes from cash desks for all types of cash transactions, and the NBU stopped transferring them to banks, collection companies, and cash processing enterprises. When old-sample banknotes end up in banks, they are no longer returned to circulation — they are transferred to the National Bank for further disposal. This is a standard procedure for updating the money supply that central banks carry out regularly. ### Do citizens need to specifically exchange money The National Bank directly indicated that residents of the country do not need to specifically exchange old-sample 50 and 200 hryvnia banknotes. These bills remain a valid payment instrument, and they can be used without restrictions in everyday transactions. The regulator notes that replacing banknotes of previous years of issue is a normal planned process of updating cash, and not a reason for citizens to worry. Separately, the NBU recalled that starting March 2, 2026, 1, 2, 5, and 10 hryvnia banknotes of the 2003–2007 samples were withdrawn from circulation and are no longer a means of payment in cash settlements; coins of corresponding denominations are used instead. At the same time, such old paper bills can be exchanged free of charge for coins and banknotes of other denominations that remain in circulation. ### Petition for small paper denominations and plans for 2000 hryvnias Against the backdrop of the withdrawal of small paper bills, Ukrainians previously registered a petition to the government asking to return 1, 2, 5, and 10 hryvnia banknotes to circulation in parallel with coins. The author of the initiative explains this by the fact that metal money is heavy, takes up a lot of space, and can be inconvenient for elderly people and individuals with visual or motor impairments. Separately, the regulator revealed how it plans to use the new 2000 hryvnia banknote: according to the NBU, it will gradually replace worn and damaged bills of various denominations, and not just 1000 hryvnia banknotes. Thus, the updating of cash in Ukraine continues in several directions simultaneously — from replacing old series to introducing new large denominations. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [НБУ изымает некоторые банкноты 50 и 200 гривен: нужно ли специально обменивать деньги](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/nbu-viluchae-deyaki-banknoti-50-ta-200-griven-1794383252.html) - Primary source: scheduled replacement of 50 and 200 hryvnia bills of 2003–2007 samples with 2014 ones, start 1.11.2024, withdrawal of paper 1–10 hryvnias from 2.3.2026, free exchange, petition, plans for 2000 hryvnias. - [НБУ выводит из обращения некоторые купюры 200 гривен: что нужно знать](https://www.obozrevatel.com/ekonomika-glavnaya/analytics-and-forecasts/nbu-vyivodit-iz-obrascheniya-nekotoryie-kupyuryi-200-griven-chto-nuzhno-znat.htm) - Confirms the planned cash update and gradual withdrawal of some 200 hryvnia bills. - [В Украине выпустят обновленные 200 гривен: как выглядит купюра](https://www.obozrevatel.com/ekonomika-glavnaya/fea/v-ukraine-vyipustyat-obnovlennyie-200-griven-kak-vyiglyadit-kupyura.htm) - Context: updated design of 200 hryvnias with a patriotic slogan; does not contradict the main text. - [В Украине вводят новые 200 гривен: что делать со "старыми" деньгами, в НБУ ответили](https://glavred.info/economics/v-ukraine-vvodyat-novye-200-griven-chto-delat-so-starymi-dengami-v-nbu-otvetili-10743254.html) - Confirms the parallel use of new and old 200 hryvnia bills and NBU clarifications. ## FAQ ### Do I need to urgently exchange old-sample 50 and 200 hryvnia banknotes? No. These bills remain a valid payment instrument and can be used for payments without restrictions. There is no need to specially exchange them. ### When did the replacement of 50 and 200 hryvnia bills begin? The replacement was announced in October 2024, and the process itself began on November 1, 2024. Old bills of the 2003–2007 samples are being replaced by 2014 sample banknotes. ### What happened to the 1, 2, 5, and 10 hryvnia paper banknotes? Since March 2, 2026, they have been withdrawn from circulation and are no longer a means of payment in cash settlements; coins are used instead. Free exchange for coins and other denominations remains available. ### How does the NBU plan to use the new 2000 hryvnia banknote? According to the regulator, it will gradually replace worn and damaged bills of various denominations, not just 1000 hryvnia banknotes.