Eesti Pank issued 10.7 million banknotes into circulation in the third quarter of 2026 with a total value of 307.8 million euros, and 3.3 million coins with a total value of 2.1 million euros.

The banknote issued most commonly was the 50-euro note, which accounted for 39% of all the banknotes issued. The most common coin was the five-cent coin, which was 26% of the coins issued into circulation. The amount of cash issued was 7% less than in the second quarter.

There were 7.7 million banknotes returned to Eesti Pank in the third quarter with a total value of 243.2 million euros. The banknote returned most commonly was the 50-euro note, which accounted for 37% of all the banknotes returned. The total number returned remained at the same level as in the previous quarter. The cash sorting process saw the destruction of 1.71 million banknotes that were unfit for circulation, and the rest were returned to circulation.

The commercial banks returned 1.7 million circulation coins with a total value of 0.19 million euros to Eesti Pank in the third quarter. The coin returned most often was the one-cent coin at 47% of the total. There were 17% fewer coins returned than in the previous quarter.

Cash was withdrawn from ATMs on 5.1 million occasions in the third quarter with a total value of 922 million euros. There were about 11% fewer withdrawals of cash than in the same period of last year. There was 492 million euros paid in through ATMs in the third quarter, which was about the same as last year.

There were 672 ATMs in Estonia at the end of the third quarter, of which 225 accept cash depositing. 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transactions could be made at 17 bank offices, and there are some 700 shop tills across Estonia from which cash can be withdrawn.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 215 exchange transactions with kroons in the Eesti Pank museum shop in the third quarter of 2026, or an average of three or four a day. A total value of 59,085 euros of Estonian kroons was exchanged in the third quarter. There are still an estimated 28.4 million kroon banknotes, worth 36.5 million euros, and 319.2 million coins, worth 6.7 million euros, that have not been returned from circulation, making a total value of 43.2 million euros.

Eesti Pank expert analysis of cash

Eesti Pank exchanges damaged euro banknotes and coins. Expert analysis of cash was carried out 43 times in the third quarter as 5861 banknotes and 161 coins were examined for authenticity

The Estonian Forensic Science Institute registered 37 counterfeit euro banknotes in Estonia in the third quarter, the majority of which were 20 and 50-euro notes. They also found 21 counterfeit coins, all of which were two-euro coins. Eesti Pank recommends that all businesses and people that use cash should be careful and attentive when handling it. More information on the security features of euro cash can be found on the website of the European Central Bank. 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]