SNB, here's what the new francs will look like from 2030

Context

In a nutshell

• BNS has chosen the graphic design for the tenth series of banknotes
• Expected entry into circulation in the early 2030s
• Theme: "Switzerland, variety in relief", a journey through altitudes
• Winner: Emphase Sagl, team Kilchör and Fasel

Key facts

• What: Selection of the graphic design for the tenth series of Swiss banknotes
• When: BNS announcement, entered into circulation in the early 2030s
• Where: Switzerland, designed by the SNB in Bern and Zurich
• Who: Swiss National Bank (SNB); winner Emphase Sagl
• Project: drawn up by J, led by Fabienne Kilchör and Sébastien Fasel
• Theme: "Switzerland, variety in relief"
• Final decision: Bank Council of the SNB
• Safety: to be developed in the coming years

The Swiss National Bank has chosen the graphic design destined to become the tenth series of Swiss banknotes. The winner of the competition held by the SNB was Drafted J, developed by the Emphase Sagl studio under the guidance of Fabienne Kilchör and Sébastien Fasel. The new banknotes, with a total of six denominations, will enter into circulation "as soon as possible at the beginning of the 2030s", as specified by the issuing institution.

The images presented in these days are not yet the final ones: the Bank Council of the SNB will have to express itself on the final role after a phase of graphic, content and above all security development, which will require "the next few years". Current tickets, fruit

Operational details

Why the altitude theme speaks to all of Switzerland

The choice to tell Switzerland's story through altitude bands is not a stylistic exercise: it means crossing in six cuts the 4,850 metres that separate Lake Maggiore's water level from the 4,810 metres of the Dufourspitze, touching at least four of the six biogeographical regions recognised at federal level. It is an idea that enhances Swiss polycentrism, where the Confederation coexists with 26 cantons and roughly 2,100 municipalities, each with its own landscape identity. For an economy built on tourism, mountain agriculture, cutting-edge research and logistics infrastructure — from Alpine passes to freight rail corridors such as the Gotthardo — the narrative by altitudes translates into images what the macroeconomic figures from the FSO have been showing for years: the country's wealth is distributed across the entire vertical gradient, not only along the Zurich–Geneva–Basel axes.

Practical implications for those who use the franc every day

For those who live and work in Switzerland the change will not hit wallets immediately: the ninth series will remain legal tender and no current banknote will be withdrawn in the coming years. What will change, gradually, is the user experience: cashiers, merchants and consumers will need to familiarise themselves with new graphic elements and, above all, with previously unseen security features — the most delicate chapter of any SNB issue, designed to resist counterfeiting.

An often overlooked aspect concerns machines: vending machines, parking meters, SBB ticket machines, turnstiles and ticket validators will need to be adapted to recognise the new banknotes. In previous series the SNB coordinated the transition with key sectors — banks, the postal service, public transport, large-scale retail — to minimise disruption. It is reasonable to expect a similar timetable for the tenth series as well, with pilot tests and gradual adjustments in the months before the launch.

Scenario: what happens from 2030 onwards

When the tenth series enters circulation in the early 2030s, old banknotes will remain exchangeable for an extended period — the established practice in all previous SNB issues. The issuing institution, headquartered in Bern and Zurich, will manage the dual circulation until the last specimen of the ninth series has been returned to the central bank's coffers. For businesses that handle large volumes of cash — retail, restaurants, transport — the operational advice remains the same as in previous transitions: avoid investing heavily in single-series devices before the official rollout schedule, which the SNB will communicate with ample advance notice. For those who want to start gauging the impact on their household budget, it can be useful to begin with the salary calculator to understand how the cost of living varies across the country's different altitudes, from Mittelland cities to Alpine villages.

Useful tools to protect your net income

To reduce FX leakage, compare CHF-EUR exchange options and banks for cross-border workers.

Key points

What to do now: a three-step guide

The SNB announcement does not impose any mandatory action today, but it is the right time to prepare for a change that will become part of the daily life of all Swiss residents and anyone working on Swiss soil.

1. Keep using the current banknotes. The ninth series, introduced in 2016, remains legal tender. No banknote currently in circulation loses value or validity with the announcement of the tenth series' design project. Any concerns about obsolescence are therefore premature.

2. Follow the upcoming institutional steps. The SNB's Bank Council — the institution's decision-making body — will have to approve the final design of the new banknotes. The current phase is still focused on graphic and content development, and above all on security. The specifications for the six denominations from 10 to 1,000 francs, including the details of the subjects on each denomination, have not yet been released and will be communicated by the SNB over the coming years.

3. Prepare on the operational side, both in business and at home. When the SNB publishes the issuance schedule — typically with at least 12 to 18 months' notice — vending machines, ATMs, ticket machines, and validators will need to be updated. For small businesses and retailers, it is advisable to wait for the official SNB guidelines before purchasing new devices or replacing existing equipment, as already happened during the transitions between the seventh, eighth, and ninth series.

Useful tools on the site

For those who want to understand the concrete impact of the franc on their budget — including salaries, taxes, health insurance premiums, and the cost of living at Switzerland's different altitudes — the salary calculator makes it possible to simulate net pay and the effect of social and tax deductions. To compare the purchasing power of the Swiss franc against the euro and other currencies, the CHF/EUR exchange comparator provides a useful daily reference for travel, cross-border shopping, or money transfers. The guide to the cost of living in Switzerland helps estimate the weight of rent, mandatory health insurance (LAMal/KVG), and everyday expenses across the country's different regions — from Ticino to German-speaking Switzerland, through the Swiss Plateau and the Alpine cantons.

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FAQ

When will the new Swiss banknotes enter circulation? The Swiss National Bank has announced that the tenth series of banknotes will be put into circulation 'at the earliest at the beginning of the 2030s'. This is an indicative horizon: the SNB's Bank Council will still have to approve the final design after a phase of graphic and security development that will take several years. The ninth series, introduced in 2016, will remain legal tender until its complete withdrawal.

Who won the design competition for the tenth series? The winner was design J, developed by the studio Emphase Sagl under the guidance of Fabienne Kilchör and Sébastien Fasel. The project is titled 'Switzerland, variety in relief' and tells the story of the country through its different altitudinal levels. On the front of each denomination, an indigenous plant will appear, while the back will feature infrastructure, architecture, and symbols of Swiss life.

What changes for cash users in Switzerland? In the short term, nothing: current banknotes remain valid. When the tenth series enters circulation, vending machines, cash registers, ticket machines, and validators will need to be adapted to the new denominations and new security features, as already happened during the transitions between previous series. For individuals and businesses, the advice is to follow the SNB guidelines that will be published well in advance of the launch.

Source: tio.ch