Exchange of banknotes and coins

In the Eurosystem, the regulation and efficiency of fiduciary supply and the maintenance of quality and authenticity of euro banknotes in circulation are, in the first instance, the responsibility of the European Central Bank (ECB) as well as, pursuant to the functions vested in them in the monetary issue field, of the euro area national central banks, among which Banco de Portugal.

The issuing rights of euro metal coins continued to be the responsibility of euro area countries, without prejudice to approval by the ECB of the volume of such issues. The entity responsible for the issue of metal coins varies from country to country. In Portugal, production is entrusted to the national mint, while the responsibility for putting them into circulation falls on Banco de Portugal.

Banco de Portugal supplies to the public, through Exchange operations, the required quantity of banknotes and metal coins, thus matching cash supply and demand, ensuring efficient circulation and reducing the risk of shortage of some euro banknote or coin denominations in the national territory.

Some operations are available at the counter in Lisbon, the Oporto branch, the Regional Delegations of the Azores (Ponta Delgada) and Madeira (Funchal) and District Agencies (Braga, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Évora, Faro and Viseu.