Banks accept and/or replace unfit euro banknotes the authenticity of which has previously been established, provided that the bearer of the unfit euro banknote presents more than 50% of the euro banknote and unfit euro coins the authenticity of which has previously been established, provided that the bearer presents whole euro coins that are suitable for machine processing and recognisable from the obverse and the reverse.

The Croatian National Bank accepts for replacement euro banknotes the surface area of which equals 50% or less than 50% of the surface area of an authentic genuine banknote, a euro banknote stained by the electrochemical protection device, an extremely damaged euro banknote and unfit euro coins recognisable from the obverse and the reverse, provided that they are submitted with the relevant application form with the required attachments.

Exchange of kuna cash for euro cash

As of 1 January 2024, the exchange of kuna cash for euro cash will only be possible at the Croatian National Bank. The exchange of kuna cash to euro cash is carried out by applying the fixed conversion rate (1 euro = 7.53450 kuna) and in accordance with the rules on the conversion and rounding referred to in the Act on the Introduction of the Euro as the Official Currency in the Republic of Croatia (Official Gazette 57/2022 and 88/2022).

Kuna cash can be submitted for exchange directly to the Croatian National Bank, Jurišićeva 17, Zagreb, from Monday to Friday from 8.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.

or via postal services to the following address:

Hrvatska narodna banka
Direkcija za pohranu, obradu i opskrbu gotovim novcem
Trg hrvatskih velikana 3
10002 Zagreb

Up to HRK 15,000.00 (that is, maximum HRK 14,999.99) can be submitted for exchange, at own risk, via postal services. The Croatian National Bank will not exchange the received kuna cash in the amount equal to or exceeding HRK 15,000.00, which has been submitted via a postal service, and it will hold the received kuna cash until the bearer approaches the Croatian National Bank in person.

The Croatian National Bank has enabled the exchange of kuna cash in person at the Croatian National Bank and, up to the amount of HRK 15,000.00, through postal services at senders' own risk. In order to avoid any inconvenience for the senders and the Croatian National Bank, it is recommended that deliveries from abroad are to be sent as insured items in an insured letter, or presented in person at the seat of the Croatian National Bank.

When more than 50% of the surface area of an authentic banknote and a banknote without any visible signs of damage or staining and whole kuna coins, recognisable from the obverse and the reverse, are submitted for exchange via a postal service, the following should be submitted to the Croatian National Bank at the same time:

• name and surname/name of the legal person, residence (city, street and number), telephone number and e-mail address of the bearer; and
• information on the preferred manner of receipt of euro cash (receipt in the official premises at the cash desk of the Croatian National Bank or by delivery through a postal service to the bearer’s address).

When the following is submitted via a postal service:

• a kuna banknote with 50% or less than 50% of the surface area of the whole banknote;
• a stained kuna banknote;
• a kuna coin that is not whole or if it is unrecognisable from the obverse and the reverse;
• a soiled kuna banknote or coin suspected to present a risk to health and safety due to soiling,

the Application for the exchange of kuna cash with the relevant attachments should be submitted, as well as the following:

• data on the manner in which the damage to kuna cash has occurred;
• where 50% or less than 50% of the surface area of a whole authentic banknote is submitted for exchange:
  • a written confirmation of the competent institution, for example, the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia (hereinafter referred to as 'MUP RC'), proving the occurrence of a force majeure event as a result of which the missing
    parts of the banknotes have been damaged; or
  • data that support the bearer's allegations on the manner in which the damage to the banknote has occurred.
• certificate of a health and safety assessment by the competent authorities on the type of soiling if soiled kuna cash is presented for exchange.

The bearer should submit for exchange kuna banknotes stained by the electrochemical protection devices that have been dried and packed in a plastic security bag with a clearly visible sign that the bag contains a banknote stained by an electrochemical protection device. Together with the banknotes, the bearer should submit:

• a written confirmation from the MUP RC regarding the event that caused the damage and a security and technical sheet of the ink from the electrochemical security system of the device by which the kuna banknote was stained; or
• a record, statement or other documents verifying that the damage occurred due to a technical malfunction of a security container or improper handling of a security container and a security and technical sheet of the ink from the electrochemical security system of the device by which the kuna banknote was stained.

The Croatian National Bank establishes whether the conditions for the exchange are met no later than within 60 (sixty) days of the date when kuna cash is submitted for exchange.

Handling large deliveries of kuna cash

If you intend to present directly for exchange kuna cash in the amount equal to or exceeding HRK 40,000.00 (forty thousand) or the number of coins exceeding 1,000 (one thousand) pieces, your arrival and the amount of kuna cash or the number of kuna coins intended for exchange should be announced in advance to the e-mail address: gotov.novac@hnb.hr.

Exceptionally, if there is no possibility of communication by e-mail, the delivery of kuna cash for exchange should be announced by phone at 01 4564 515.

In case of large deliveries submitted through a company specialised in cash operations, in the announcement for the bearer it is necessary to indicate the following:

• name and surname/name of the legal person (from a court or another competent register);
• personal identification number (OIB), or for persons who do not have a personal identification number, the place, date, month and year of birth;
• residence or head office of the legal person (country, city, street and number);
• telephone number;
• e-mail address (if any);
• specification of kuna cash that is planned to be delivered;
• information on how cash will be packaged;
• planned date of delivery;
• health and safety assessment of competent authorities from which it results that cash does not pose a risk to human health and safety.

For the company specialised in cash operations, the following should be indicated:

• data on the vehicle (type of vehicle and licence plates); and
• name and surname, number and type of identification document of the persons escorting the vehicle.

The Croatian National Bank may also request additional data on the bearer or the bearer’s authorised person, as follows:

• name and number of the identification document, the country of issuer;
• date, month and year of birth;
• citizenship;
• information on activity or occupation;
• source of cash that is presented for exchange;
• proof of authorisation for representation/power of attorney, where a bearer presents cash for exchange through a legal representative or a proxy.

After all the required data are submitted, the Croatian National Bank notifies the bearer of a large delivery of kuna cash by e-mail about the approval or rejection of acceptance of the announced presentation or delivery of kuna cash for exchange.

If the delivery of kuna cash for exchange is approved, the Croatian National Bank will send an e-mail to the bearer with the following information:

• euro equivalent value for the kuna cash presented or delivered according to the declared value;
• possible time and date of receipt of kuna cash for exchange.

If the bearer agrees with the provided information, he/she should confirm it in a response to the received notification and present or deliver kuna cash in accordance with the received notification of the Croatian National Bank.

Following the receipt of kuna cash for exchange, the Croatian National Bank determines whether the delivered kuna cash meets the conditions for exchange. If kuna cash meets the conditions for exchange, the Croatian National Bank notifies the bearer when he/she may take over euro cash.

If the delivery of kuna cash is sent to the Croatian National Bank without a prior notice or without the explicit approval of the Croatian National Bank, the delivery will not be accepted and will be returned to the sender.

Replacement of unfit euro banknotes and euro coins

Banks accept and/or replace unfit euro banknotes the authenticity of which has previously been established, provided that the bearer of the unfit euro banknote presents more than 50% of the euro banknote and unfit euro coin the authenticity of which has previously been established, provided that the bearer presents whole euro coins that are suitable for machine processing and recognisable from the obverse and the reverse.

The Croatian National Bank accepts:

• a euro banknote the surface area of which equals precisely 50% of the surface area of an authentic banknote or less than 50% of the surface area of an authentic banknote; or
• a euro banknote stained as a result of the activation of electrochemical protection; or
• an extremely damaged euro banknote, or a euro banknote the authenticity of which, due to the damage, cannot be determined without a more complex assessment and analysis; and
• damaged euro coins recognisable from the obverse or the reverse

if delivered with the relevant application form for the exchange of euro cash with its enclosures. If the application is not completed correctly, the Croatian National Bank reserves the right not to act on the submitted application.

Additional conditions for the replacement of euro banknotes apply:

• when 50% or less than 50% of an euro banknote is presented for replacement, the applicant should submit the documentation proving that the missing parts are destroyed (a written confirmation of the competent institution, e.g. the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia, hereinafter referred to as ‘MUP RC’);
• when doubt exists as to the applicant’s legal title to the euro banknotes, the applicant should provide proof of his/her identity, as well as proof that the applicant is the owner or otherwise authorised applicant;
• where doubt exists as to the authenticity of the euro banknotes, the applicant should provide proof of his/her identity;
• where ink-stained, contaminated or impregnated genuine euro banknotes are presented, the applicant should present a written explanation as to the kind of stain, contamination or impregnation.

The Croatian National Bank may refuse to replace euro coins unfit for circulation which have been altered either deliberately or by a process that could be reasonably expected to have the effect of altering them.

Unfit euro cash, accompanied by the Application for the analysis and replacement of unfit euro banknotes, Application for the analysis and replacement of stained euro banknotes or the Application for the analysis and replacement of unfit euro coins can be personally presented at the Croatian National Bank in Zagreb, Jurišićeva 17, from Monday to Friday between 8.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. or delivered through postal services to the following address:

Hrvatska narodna banka
Direkcija za pohranu, obradu i opskrbu gotovim novcem
Trg hrvatskih velikana 3
p.p. 859
10000 Zagreb

The Croatian National Bank will not replace deliberately damaged euro banknotes and euro coins.

In addition to the Croatian National Bank, unfit euro banknotes and euro coins can be replaced at the banks or central banks in the euro area countries. For details on the conditions and the procedure and a potential fee, visit the central banks’ websites.

Replacement of euro banknotes damaged by anti-theft devices

When genuine euro banknotes have been damaged by anti-theft devices, the applicant should make a written statement about the cause of damage.

The genuine euro banknotes that have been damaged by anti-theft devices in connection with an attempted or actual robbery, theft, or other criminal activity are replaced only at the request of the owner or otherwise authorised applicant who is the victim of the attempted or actual criminal activity leading to the damage to the banknotes. The applicant should make a written statement specifying the cause of the damage and a security and technical sheet of the ink from the electrochemical security system of the device by which the euro banknote was stained, as well as the data about the person who has presented the damaged euro banknotes and the date on which they were presented.

If genuine euro banknotes have been damaged in bulk due to the activation of anti-theft devices, they must be presented in sets of 100 euro banknotes, provided that the amount of euro banknotes presented is sufficient to form such sets.

If the applicant submits damaged genuine euro banknotes in the value of a minimum of EUR 10,000 and more for replacement, the Croatian National Bank will act in accordance with the Anti-money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act (Official Gazette 108/2017, 39/2019 and 151/2022).

Fees for the replacement of genuine euro banknotes damaged by anti-theft devices

The Croatian National Bank and the central banks of the countries whose currency is the euro charge a fee for the analysis and replacement of euro banknotes damaged by anti-theft devices, as governed by the Decision of the European Central Bank on the denominations, specifications, reproduction, exchange and withdrawal of euro banknotes (recast, ECB/2013/10).

The fee amounts to 10 euro cent per damaged euro banknote. The fee is only charged if at least 100 damaged euro banknotes are replaced. The fee is charged for all replaced euro banknotes.

The Croatian National Bank does not charge the fee if euro banknotes have been damaged in connection with an attempted or actual robbery, theft or other criminal activity.

Fees for the replacement of unfit euro coins

The Croatian National Bank charges a fee for handling unfit euro coins in accordance with Article 9 of Regulation (EU) No 1210/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning authentication of euro coins and handling of euro coins unfit for circulation by:

1. withholding a handling fee of 5% of the nominal value of the submitted unfit euro coins from the reimbursement or the replacement of those euro coins;
2. the fee referred to in item (1) of this paragraph being supplemented by an additional 15% fee of the nominal value of the submitted euro coins in the event that the check of the entire bag or box of submitted unfit euro coins establishes irregularities or deviations from Article 10 of Regulation (EU) No 1210/2010.

By exception from the above, the Croatian National Bank does not charge a fee for analysing euro coins:

• where less than 1,000 (a thousand) pieces of euro coins are submitted for exchange;
• to judiciary authorities, the Customs Administration of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of the Interior;
• in other cases, when the Croatian National Bank assesses that this is in the public interest.

Where can damaged foreign cash be replaced?

The procedure for the replacement of damaged foreign cash can be initiated at the commercial bank in which you are a client if the bank offers such a service, at banks abroad, at the central bank of the country that has issued the foreign currency or the issuer of the foreign currency coins in the case of damaged coins.