Flood
Around 87 million euros in “flood money” submitted for exchange
Banknotes from banks and savings banks were damaged in the summer floods in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate. Bills worth several million euros have now been exchanged.
The exchange of damaged cash from the flood areas in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate for new money is still in full swing at the Bundesbank in Mainz.
In the meantime, according to the bank, those affected have submitted banknotes and coins worth a total of 86.7 million euros (as of November 23).
The notes come from banks and savings banks – for example from destroyed ATMs – or from private individuals. The banknotes, which were often heavily contaminated with mud, sewage and heating oil due to the flood in mid-July, are cleaned, dried and checked by experts at the Bundesbank’s analysis center for counterfeit money and damaged cash in Mainz so that those who submit their money get their money back in fresh notes. The service is free of charge for citizens.
In the meantime, a little less money is being submitted than a few weeks ago, said Bundesbank board member Johannes Beermann. The employees continued to work hard to ensure that “those affected receive a refund for the notes and coins submitted as soon as possible”. The opportunity to exchange is unlimited in time.