Eesti Pank issued 7.6 million banknotes into circulation in the first quarter of 2026 with a total value of 252.1 million euros, and 1.7 million coins with a total value of 1.1 million euros.

The banknote issued most commonly was the 50-euro note, which accounted for just over half of all the banknotes. The most common coin was the five-cent coin, which was 26% of the coins issued into circulation. The amount of cash issued was 11% less than in the previous quarter, mainly because fewer banknotes were issued. There was no notable difference in the amount of coins issued. The change is quite usual because demand for cash is typically smaller at the start of the year.

There were 6 million banknotes with a total value of 203.4 million euros returned to Eesti Pank in the first quarter. The banknote encountered most commonly among those returned at 43% of the total was the 50-euro note. The total number of banknotes returned was 3% lower than in the previous quarter. The cash sorting process saw the destruction of 2.5 million banknotes that were unfit for circulation, and the rest were returned to circulation.

The commercial banks returned 2.9 million circulation coins with a total value of 0.8 million euros to Eesti Pank in the first quarter. The coin returned most often was the two-cent coin at 34% of the total. There were 26% fewer coins returned than in the previous quarter. The main reason for this was that the coin exchange service operated jointly by Omniva and Eesti Pank was stopped at the end of 2025.

Cash was withdrawn from ATMs in Estonia on 4.5 million occasions in the first quarter, for a total value of 798 million euros. There were about 8% fewer withdrawals of cash than in the same period of last year. Cash deposits of 419 million euros were made in ATMs in the first quarter, which was 5% less than a year previously.

There were 661 ATMs in Estonia in the first quarter of 2026, of which 223 accept cash depositing. Even though demand for cash has declined over the years, the number of ATMs has held steady in recent years at above 660. Cash transactions could be made at 17 bank offices, and there are some 700 shop tills across Estonia from which cash can be withdrawn.

Exchanging Estonian kroons for cash

Eesti Pank continues to exchange Estonian kroons in notes and coins for euros. There were 167 exchange transactions with kroons in the first quarter of 2026 at a value of 29,000 euros. There are still an estimated 28.4 million kroon banknotes, worth 36.6 million euros, and 319.4 million coins, worth 6.7 million euros, that have not been returned from circulation, making a total value of 43.3 million euros. Interest in exchanging kroons for euros has been very low in recent years.

Eesti Pank expert analysis of cash

Eesti Pank exchanges damaged euro banknotes and coins. Expert analysis of cash was carried out 63 times in the first quarter as 4425 banknotes and 63 coins were examined for authenticity.

The Estonian Forensic Science Institute registered 70 counterfeit euro banknotes in Estonia in the first quarter, the majority of which were 20 and 50-euro notes. There were also 28 counterfeit coins discovered in the quarter. Eesti Pank recommends that all businesses and people that use cash should be careful and attentive when handling banknotes. It is also wise to be careful when paying in cash while travelling abroad.

• Estonian kroon banknotes and coins can be exchanged for euros at the shop of the Eesti Pank Museum during its opening hours from Tuesdays to Fridays 12.00-17.00 and Saturdays 11.00-16.00.
• Damaged banknotes can be submitted for expert analysis by contacting a bank or the Eesti Pank museum shop.

Additional information:
Hanna Jürgenson
Communications officer
Eesti Pank
Tel 5692 0930
Press enquiries: [email protected]