National Bank Predicts Long Queues Ahead of Old Banknote Deadline

As Denmark braces for the final deadline to exchange soon-to-be worthless banknotes, the National Bank is forecasting significant queues at exchange points. With Sunday, May 31st, marking the last chance to turn in these soon-to-be obsolete notes, a surge in activity is expected at counters across the country.

Niels Kaas, Chief Cashier at the National Bank, acknowledged the potential for long waiting times, despite efforts to bolster staff and provide guidance at the exchange locations. "The waiting time can be long, even though we are doing everything we can to bring in extra staff and provide guidance at the exchange points," he stated. He urged citizens to come prepared with the necessary forms and documentation and to "arm themselves with patience."

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The waiting time can be long, even though we are doing everything we can to bring in extra staff and provide guidance at the exchange points.

The National Bank announced the phasing out of 1000-kroner notes and all banknote series from 1944, 1952, 1972, and 1997 nearly two and a half years ago. While these notes ceased to be legal tender in shops on May 31, 2025, they will soon hold no value even at the National Bank. A partnership with the exchange bureau Forex allows for exchanges until May 31, 2026.

Since December 2024, the National Bank's three exchange locations in Aarhus, Odense, and Copenhagen have processed over 43,000 transactions, totaling more than 200 million kroner. In total, 21.1 billion kroner worth of notes have been exchanged since November 30, 2023, though a considerable amount remains outstanding. This final push highlights a common national behavior where many citizens delay such administrative tasks until the very last moment, creating a predictable bottleneck that authorities must manage.

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With the pressure we have experienced leading up to the deadline, one must prepare well from home and bring the necessary forms and documents and arm themselves with patience.