Found an old 50 or 200 hryvnia note in your wallet? As of 8 November 2026 you can use it to pay, and you do not need to go to a bank specifically to exchange it. The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) has been gradually withdrawing these banknotes since 1 November 2024. When such a note reaches a bank, it is no longer issued from the till to the next customer.
| Which banknote do you have | Can you pay with it? |
|---|---|
| 50 hryvnia of the 2004 design | Yes, it is accepted at face value |
| 200 hryvnia of the 2007 design | Yes, it is accepted at face value |
| 50 or 200 hryvnia of the modern design | Yes, these notes remain in circulation |
How to check which design your banknote is?
Open the NBU’s banknote catalogue and compare both sides of the note with the images. The portrait alone will not tell you much. Mykhailo Hrushevskyi appears on both the old and modern 50 hryvnia notes. Likewise, Lesia Ukrainka appears on both versions of the 200 hryvnia note.
| Denomination | Design being gradually withdrawn | Modern design |
|---|---|---|
| 50 hryvnia | 2004 | 2019 |
| 200 hryvnia | 2007 | 2019 |
What does the year printed on the banknote mean?
It is the year that particular banknote was printed. For example, a 50 hryvnia note may show “2014” even though the design is from 2004. Such a fifty-hryvnia belongs to the old design and remains valid for payment.
How to pay with old 50 and 200 hryvnia notes?
If a purchase at a pharmacy costs 172 hryvnia, you can hand over an old 200 hryvnia note and receive 28 hryvnia in change. The year printed on the note does not affect the amount.
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You are buying groceries or medicine | Present the note at the till as normal cash |
| You want to deposit money into an account | Deposit the notes at the bank counter |
| A cash deposit machine returns the banknote | Go to the bank cashier to deposit the money |
| The note is missing a large piece | Collect all pieces and take them to the bank for inspection |
What to do if the cashier refuses the note?
- Ask why they will not accept it. If it is only because of the old design, ask the cashier or manager to check whether that design is still in circulation.
- If the note is badly torn or burned, show it at a bank cashier. They will determine whether it can be exchanged immediately or needs verification.
How to exchange a torn banknote?
If at least 55% of the original note remains intact, the bank will exchange it free of charge. For example, if a corner has torn off a 200 hryvnia note but the rest is intact, you can receive the full 200 hryvnia. If a note has been damaged by fire and its authenticity is difficult to determine, an inspection by the NBU may be required.
Where does an old banknote go after payment?
An old fifty may pass from hand to hand until it reaches a bank. For example, you pay with it at a shop and the shop deposits its takings at a bank. From there the note will be sent to the NBU or an authorised bank. That way there are fewer old notes in wallets, and when dispensing cash banks use modern designs.
Until what date can you pay with old 50 and 200 hryvnia notes?
As of 8 November 2026 the NBU has not announced a final date after which these notes can no longer be used for payment. The regulator must set such a date by a separate decision.
What to do if old notes are in your household savings?
You can keep them as savings, spend them or deposit them into an account. If you have three old 200 hryvnia notes and four 50 hryvnia notes, that is 800 hryvnia. The year of the design does not change the amount.
Can you similarly pay with old paper 1, 2, 5 and 10 hryvnia notes?
Different rules apply to these paper denominations. Since 2 March 2026, paper 1, 2, 5 and 10 hryvnia notes of the 2003–2007 designs can no longer be used for payments. They can be exchanged, and coins of the corresponding denominations remain valid for payments.
