In the first half of 2019, the Bundesbank recorded approximately 27,600 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of €1.6 million. Thus, although the incidence of counterfeiting was up compared to the second half of 2018, it is still low overall.

The branches of the Bundesbank supply the economy with euro banknotes and coins, and offers private customers the opportunity to exchange D-Mark banknotes and coins free-of-charge and with no fixed deadline.

By way of majority, the National Cash Forum advocates rounding up or down to the nearest 5 euro cent for cash payments in Germany. The Federal Ministry of Finance is called upon to advocate for, and press ahead with, a binding statutory rounding rule in Germany. The rounding rule should be applied across Europe as uniformly as possible.

In the first half of 2018, the Bundesbank registered approximately 31,100 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of €1.8 million – 6.2% fewer than in the previous six months. The most frequently counterfeited denomination was the €50 banknote.

In the first half of 2017, the Bundesbank registered around 39,700 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of €2.2 million – 8.7% more than in the second half of 2016. The most frequently counterfeited denomination was the €50 banknote.

Croatia is introducing euro cash on 1 January 2023, making it the 20th Member State of the euro area. Croatian kuna banknotes can be exchanged for euro free of charge at all Bundesbank branches between 1 January and 28 February 2023. Croatia’s accession to the euro area will change the composition of the Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB) and the ECB’s capital, as well as the capital key used to calculate it.

In 2020, the Bundesbank registered approximately 58,800 counterfeit euro banknotes with a nominal value of €2.9 million in German payments. The number of counterfeits thus rose by 6.5% on the year, while the nominal value of the banknotes seized fell by 14.3%.