Rwanda Extends Deadline for Exchanging Old Banknotes.
The National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) has extended by one month the deadline for exchanging banknotes that are being withdrawn from circulation, giving holders until November 30, 2026, to replace them at nearby financial institutions. The previous deadline had been November 1, 2026.
The banknotes being withdrawn are the Rwf500 notes issued on July 1, 2004, and January 1, 2013; Rwf1,000 notes issued on July 1, 2004, and May 1, 2015; the Rwf2,000 note issued on October 31, 2007; and Rwf5,000 notes issued on April 1, 2004, and February 1, 2009.
BNR has clarified that other banknotes remain valid and can still be used for transactions in Rwanda. These include Rwf500 and Rwf1,000 notes issued on February 1, 2019, as well as Rwf2,000 and Rwf5,000 notes issued on December 1, 2014, and June 28, 2024.
This means that the denomination alone does not determine whether a banknote has been withdrawn from circulation. Holders should check the date of issue printed on their notes before deciding whether they need to exchange them at a nearby financial institution.
BNR said that from December 1, 2026, to March 1, 2027, people who still have the withdrawn banknotes will be able to exchange them at the central bank’s headquarters in Kigali and its branches across the country.
The exchange exercise will end permanently on March 1, 2027. After that date, the withdrawn banknotes will no longer be accepted as legal tender and cannot be exchanged.
According to BNR, newer banknotes have been fitted with improved security features to make them more difficult to counterfeit.
These include colour-changing elements, with the security thread changing from green to blue depending on the angle at which the note is viewed. This is one of the features distinguishing the newer notes from older series that are being phased out.
The Rwf2,000 and Rwf5,000 notes issued in June 2024 also have additional security measures, including a wider, partially transparent security thread containing microtext with the letters “BNR” and the denomination.
Both notes feature a repositioned watermark comprising the National Coat of Arms and the letters “BNR”. It is now located on the right-hand side of the notes, whereas it appeared on the left in the previous series.
Their designs have also been updated. The Rwf5,000 note features the Kigali Convention Centre and traditional Rwandan baskets, while the Rwf2,000 note depicts the mountains around Lake Kivu and roasted coffee beans.
