Eesti Pank issued 8.5 million banknotes into circulation in the fourth quarter of 2025 with a total value of 286.7 million euros, and 1.77 million coins with a total value of 1.32 million euros.

The banknote issued most commonly was the 50-euro note, which accounted for over half of all the banknotes. The most common coin was the two-euro coin, which was 29% of the coins issued into circulation. The amount issued in banknotes was about the same as in the previous quarter, while the volume of coins was less than half. The difference in the volume of coins is quite normal because demand for coins has historically always been higher in the summer months than at other times of year because of seasonal consumption patterns.

There were 6.2 million banknotes with a total value of 215.1 million euros returned to Eesti Pank in the fourth quarter. The banknote returned most commonly was the 50-euro note, which accounted for 44% of all the banknotes returned. The total number of banknotes returned was 7% lower than in the previous quarter. The cash sorting process saw the destruction of 1.17 million banknotes that were unfit for circulation, and the rest were returned to circulation.

The commercial banks returned 3.87 million circulation coins with a total value of 650,000 euros to Eesti Pank in the fourth quarter. The coin returned most commonly was the two-cent coin, which accounted for 39% of all the coins returned. There were 27% more coins returned than in the third quarter. The joint coin exchange programme that had been run by Eesti Pank and Omniva since autumn 2023 in two post offices in Tallinn and Tartu ended at the end of 2025. A total of 10.2 million coins were collected during the 18 months of the campaign (see Figure 1), and 59% of them were one and two-cent coins.

Cash was withdrawn from ATMs on 5.1 million occasions in the fourth quarter, for a total value of 893 million euros. There were about 7% fewer withdrawals of cash than in the same period of last year. Cash deposits of 482 million euros were made in ATMs in the fourth quarter, which was 8% less than a year previously.

The Eesti Pank survey on access to cash shows that the availability of cash has remained the same in Estonia in recent years. Around 97% of people in Estonia live within 10 km of a point where they can withdraw cash. Cash can be withdrawn from ATMs, bank offices providing cash services, and shop tills that have a withdrawal service.

There were 660 ATMs in Estonia in the fourth quarter of 2025, of which 223 accept cash depositing. Alongside the ATMs, cash transactions can be made in 17 bank offices. There are some 700 shop tills across Estonia from which cooperation between the banks and points of sale allows cash to be withdrawn.

Exchanging Estonian kroons for cash

Eesti Pank continues to exchange Estonian kroons in notes and coins for euros. There were 196 exchange transactions with kroons in the fourth quarter of 2025 at a value of 87,125 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 54 times in the fourth quarter as 2646 banknotes were examined for authenticity and were classed as damaged notes where appropriate. Banknotes are exchanged when more than half of them remains. Damaged banknotes are removed from circulation and are destroyed.

The Estonian Forensic Science Institute registered 100 counterfeit euro banknotes in Estonia in the fourth quarter, the majority of which were 20 and 50-euro notes. There were also 35 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.

• 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 Specialist
Eesti Pank
Tel: 5692 0930
Press enquiries: [email protected]