Bank of Zambia Sets Deadline for Withdrawal of Old Banknotes
Old Zambian Banknotes to Lose Legal Tender Status in 2026 as BOZ Confirms Exchange Deadline
The Bank of Zambia has announced that all old banknotes will cease to be legal tender on April 1, 2026, marking the final phase of the country’s currency transition. The central bank said the exchange period for the old notes will officially end on March 31, 2026.
The withdrawal follows the introduction of a new currency family in March 2025, comprising six banknotes and six coins, which have been circulating alongside the old currency during the transition period.
The Bank of Zambia explained that the one-year exchange window was provided for under the Withdrawal and Exchange of Currency Regulations issued in 2025.
According to the central bank, after the deadline, old banknotes will no longer be accepted for transactions or exchanged for the new currency series. Members of the public holding old notes have therefore been urged to exchange them before the end of March 2026 to avoid inconvenience.
The Bank of Zambia said the exchange can be done at any commercial bank or NATSAVE branch across the country, with old banknotes exchanged at full face value.
The central bank emphasized that the measure is intended to ensure a smooth transition to the new currency series and to maintain confidence in the national monetary system.
