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Why don’t ATMs dispense 10-franc notes?

27.9.2022

Debit cards have been the most popular means of payment in Switzerland for several years now, but cash is just behind in second place. And the quickest way to get it is at an ATM – unless you need small denominations.

At the moment I’m addicted, and my poison is Ricardo.ch. Every day I check my watch list, add supposed bargains to it, and – if I’m lucky enough – bag an auction. Recently I won a bid for a chair at 11 francs, which I was supposed to pay in cash upon pick-up. That’s why I went to the ATM shortly beforehand, but it only gave me the option of 20-franc notes and higher. I would’ve much preferred a 10-franc note, given the price of my purchase. Unfortunately, 10-franc notes are almost non-existent at ATMs.

Why is that exactly?

«Because there aren’t enough compartments», says Marius Maissen, Media Relations and Public Affairs Manager at the cantonal bank of Basel-Landschaft (BLKB). Normally, ATMs have four or five compartments that are filled with banknotes. According to federal note circulation, the most widely distributed denomination is the 100-franc note (making up 27.9 per cent of all notes), followed by the 20-franc note (18.5 per cent) and, rather surprisingly – at least for me – the 200-franc note (17.7 per cent) and only then the 10-franc note (14.9 per cent). Since ATMs are supposed to provide cash that’s most practical in everyday life, there are 20- and 100-franc notes to cover small and large amounts. And there are also 50-franc notes, even though they only occupy fifth place when it comes to the number of notes in circulation. They’re convenient for many cash withdrawals since we mostly think in round and «half-round» amounts.

Make space for those euros

Three compartments are now filled; two remain at BLKB. And they’re usually for the 20- and 50-euro notes. Since Switzerland is surrounded by euro countries, ignoring the foreign currency is a no-go. Having ATMs that dispense euros is simply practical be it to go shopping across the border in Constance or Waldshut, or to cover your relative’s birthday gift in the form of a filled envelope (admittedly a niche problem at best). ATMs make withdrawing euros quick and easy.

This ATM at Zurich’s cantonal bank makes 200-franc notes instead of 20-euro notes available.

At other banks, 200-franc notes are often available instead of 20-euro notes. So the 10-franc note has had to give way. At least at many Swiss ATMs. «There are definitely also locations that are equipped with 10-franc notes or even with coin rolls», says Maissen. Coin rolls? And I thought ATMs with 10-franc notes were cool. But coin-dispensing ATMs definitely top that. So much so that I’d almost drive as far as Sissach in the canton of Basel-Landschaft, where, according to Maissen, such a specimen exists.

And with such an ATM I could’ve paid for my chair the way I was supposed to, without having had to save the Ricardo seller’s number. And since there apparently isn’t a coin-dispensing ATM in his vicinity either, he couldn’t give me change for my 20, and I ended up having to use Twint.

Which works too.

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Carolin Teufelberger

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carolin.teufelberger@digitecgalaxus.ch

My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.

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Why don’t ATMs dispense 10-franc notes?

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