Services provided to the public

Banco de Portugal, in the fulfillment of its statutory objectives and in the performance of the tasks incumbent on it, provides a range of services to the public.

Library - It is geared mainly towards offering support for academic and professional research and has a Reading Room which is open to the public.

Museum - In addition to the permanent exhibition "Money in the West of the Iberian Peninsula", it also presents temporary exhibitions.

Historical archive - Holds an extensive collection of 19th and 20th century documents and has a Reading Room open to the public.

Cash offices - In cash offices in the Mainland and in the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira, Banco de Portugal provides a range of services, namely the exchange of banknotes, exchange of/into euro banknotes and coins and sale of commemorative and collector coins.

Central Credit Register - Banco de Portugal manages a database with information reported by by the participants (institutions which extend credit) on loans granted to the respective customers. Information may be requested at any information desk or by mail.

Central Balance-sheet Data Office – Economic and financial database on Portuguese non-financial corporations, which provides corporations with useful information for their management and for a better perception of their position within their sector of economic activity.

Cheque-writing ban - Banco de Portugal manages the List of Cheque Defaulters (LUR). Information may be requested at any information desk or by mail.

Accounts in the name of deceased holders - Banco de Portugal disseminates to the Portuguese banking system requests to trace financial assets of deceased holders.

Complaints on institutions - Banco de Portugal receives and analyses complaints by customers of credit institutions and financial companies, either submitted directly through the Complaint Book or at counters.