14 April 2025
Danmarks Nationalbank today launches its final campaign to have Danes hand in older banknotes and 1000-kroner banknotes before they seize to be legal tender on 31 May 2025.
"It is important for us to collect as many banknotes as possible in time to make the phasing out of these banknotes as smooth as possible for all citizens," says Camilla Penn, Head of Secretariat, Communication and Strategy at Danmarks Nationalbank. "A lot of people know that 1000-krone banknotes and older banknotes will become invalid, but exactly when it happens appears slightly more difficult to remember. Thus, this campaign focuses on the expiration date and creating awareness that it's quite soon," she continues.
Danmarks Nationalbank announced the phasing out of the 1000-krone banknotes and banknote series from 1944, 1952, 1972 and 1997 almost a year and a half ago. Since then, Danes have handed in expiring banknotes worth 20.6 billion kroner.
Danmarks Nationalbank carried out a previous "cash" campaign last autumn, which featured digital and physical letters sent to all Danes. Subsequently, surveys showed that more than 90 per cent of Danes are aware 1000-krone banknotes will become invalid, and more than 80 per cent know old banknotes will be discontinued. Nevertheless, there are still banknotes worth as much as kr. 4.6 billion in circulation that cannot be used after 31 May 2025.
The new campaign features TV and radio spots and train station adds. In addition, several retail chains, banks and municipalities are working with Danmarks Nationalbank to build awareness of the banknotes becoming invalid on 31 May 2025.
The focus of the new campaign is to alert citizens to hand in older banknotes and 1000-krone banknotes before 31 May, just over six weeks from now, when they become invalid as means of payment.
Despite the high level of knowledge that a number of banknotes will become invalid, Danmarks Nationalbank expects banknotes worth up to 3 billion kroner will not be handed in before the deadline. Partly because banknotes are physical products, partly because some of the banknotes being discontinued have been in circulation since World War II.
"We've experienced a very high rate of submission compared to phasing out old banknotes in other countries, and we know that we probably won't get all of the expiring banknotes back, but we're still trying to achieve that goal," says Camilla Penn.
The campaign starts on Monday 14 April in Denmark, and Monday 28 April in Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Danmarks Nationalbank expects that 95 per cent of the population over the age of 18 will encounter the campaign messages more than 5 times during the four-week campaign period.
After 31 May 2025, the expired banknotes can still be redeemed for another 12 months at Danmarks Nationalbank's three depositing points in Aarhus, Odense and Copenhagen.
Inquiries about the campaign can be directed to press adviser Peter Levring on 2620 1809 and pnbl@nationalbanken.dk.