Nearly ten million people joined the euro banknote design survey

The announcement

The ECB reported on 23 September that 9.96 million people had taken part in its survey on future euro banknote designs. The survey ran from 23 July to 21 September 2026.

Responses will inform the design process alongside other assessments. The announcement envisages the new series entering circulation gradually in the early 2030s and states that existing banknotes will remain valid alongside it.

What it means for account customers

For account customers, banknote design and access to cash are separate issues. An account's ATM conditions, branch services and card format determine how practical cash access is today.

Our view: a story about a future series is not a reason to pay someone to replace existing notes. When comparing a digital account, consider the cash withdrawals you need and the charges or access restrictions that may apply. The survey milestone concerns future design choices, rather than an immediate change to a bank's cash services.

This article distinguishes the source announcement from BankRanking's editorial interpretation. It does not rank or endorse a product.