this post was submitted on 22 Mar 2026
46 points (97.9% liked)

Europe

10711 readers
1046 users here now

News and information from Europe 🇪🇺

(Current banner: La Mancha, Spain. Feel free to post submissions for banner images.)

Rules (2024-08-30)

  1. This is an English-language community. Comments should be in English. Posts can link to non-English news sources when providing a full-text translation in the post description. Automated translations are fine, as long as they don't overly distort the content.
  2. No links to misinformation or commercial advertising. When you post outdated/historic articles, add the year of publication to the post title. Infographics must include a source and a year of creation; if possible, also provide a link to the source.
  3. Be kind to each other, and argue in good faith. Don't post direct insults nor disrespectful and condescending comments. Don't troll nor incite hatred. Don't look for novel argumentation strategies at Wikipedia's List of fallacies.
  4. No bigotry, sexism, racism, antisemitism, islamophobia, dehumanization of minorities, or glorification of National Socialism. We follow German law; don't question the statehood of Israel.
  5. Be the signal, not the noise: Strive to post insightful comments. Add "/s" when you're being sarcastic (and don't use it to break rule no. 3).
  6. If you link to paywalled information, please provide also a link to a freely available archived version. Alternatively, try to find a different source.
  7. Light-hearted content, memes, and posts about your European everyday belong in other communities.
  8. Don't evade bans. If we notice ban evasion, that will result in a permanent ban for all the accounts we can associate with you.
  9. No posts linking to speculative reporting about ongoing events with unclear backgrounds. Please wait at least 12 hours. (E.g., do not post breathless reporting on an ongoing terror attack.)
  10. Always provide context with posts: Don't post uncontextualized images or videos, and don't start discussions without giving some context first.

(This list may get expanded as necessary.)

Posts that link to the following sources will be removed

Unless they're the only sources, please also avoid The Sun, Daily Mail, any "thinktank" type organization, and non-Lemmy social media (incl. Substack). Don't link to Twitter directly, instead use xcancel.com. For Reddit, use old:reddit:com

(Lists may get expanded as necessary.)

Ban lengths, etc.

We will use some leeway to decide whether to remove a comment.

If need be, there are also bans: 3 days for lighter offenses, 7 or 14 days for bigger offenses, and permanent bans for people who don't show any willingness to participate productively. If we think the ban reason is obvious, we may not specifically write to you.

If you want to protest a removal or ban, feel free to write privately to the admin that applied the rule (check modlog first to find who was it.)

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

I know that the 500€ bill ceases to exist on the new series of bank notes (as they capped it at 200€) but those who possess the older series with that denomination can still use it as legal tender, but is it that common for Europeans to have a 200€ bill in their wallet? I've heard as to why they ceased on printing 500€ is mainly relating to both criminal activity or money laundering as that denomation has been abused as such.

200€ is the second highest one, although the older 500€ bill is no longer in circulation. Do ATM's disperse either 500 & 200€ bills regarding cash withdrawals within that amount or do they just give that amount in smaller denominations equating to that much (like consisting of 20, 50 or 100€ bills)? If ATM's don't just give out a 200€ bill when withdrawing that much or more, does one have to visit a bank (branch) to get one?

all 36 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Not really. Most cash payments are made with €50 bills and below. Nearly anything beyond that is done by debit card.

[–] blxt@lemmy.zip 31 points 2 days ago

Worked in retail (Germany) for a while and I have seen a couple every day. 500€ bills were rare though. And our registers where technically not allowed to accept more then 999,99€ in cash.

One time a customer payed a pack of gums with a 500€ bill. It was legit, so started counting to give back the 499,11€. As I was about to start to count a second time to verify, she just grabbed the money and stormed out… it was odd, I was 70% sure that I didn’t count right the first time, looked outside but she was gone. When I had to count the money after my shift I had 100€ too much. My manager was as confused as I was and I have never heard anything of it again. Weird one.

[–] Fleppensteijn@sh.itjust.works 19 points 2 days ago (1 children)

They're very uncommon. I once got paid cash for fruit picking in France. It was the first and only time I carried 200 euro notes. No shop accepts them. ATMs give out 50 euro notes max.

[–] War5oldier@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (3 children)

No shop accepts them. ATMs give out 50 euro notes

Will electronic stores accept either 100 or 200€ bills when purchasing an iPhone for 1500€ upon paying in cash? Also, can you pay only with 200€ (x30) only in physical currency when purchasing a 8K TV that may be 6000€.

[–] Fleppensteijn@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

It's illegal to buy anything in cash over 3000 euros

[–] Redditquaza@feddit.org 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

In which country? That sounds very strict. In Germany for instance you can buy anything you want with cash, you just have to show your ID and document the origin of the cash above 10.000€

[–] Fleppensteijn@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I thought it was EU law but apparently it depends on the country. It's 3000 in Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal and other countries have other limits. But it's not surprising this is not a thing in Germany, they really try to push for cash

[–] Levsgetso@lemmy.zip 1 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

I didn’t know such laws existed. Apparently in Bulgaria it has been active since 2011 and currently the limit is 5112,92 €, which is the equivalent of 10000 leva

[–] dynamoMaus@feddit.org 12 points 2 days ago

Depending on the country. In Germany most used cars are bought with cash

[–] NorskSud@piefed.social 16 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Even the 100€ is not that common as most ATMs don't distribute them and most commerce doesn't like to get them either. The few times I had any of those notes I just deposited them immediately on my bank.

[–] Jiral@lemmy.org 4 points 2 days ago

In Austria ATMs do not only have 100 EUR bills, if you are not careful it will also hand out anytime it can.

[–] War5oldier@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

100€ is not that common

But, can you visit a bank enquiring if they stockpile that denomination? (Same with 200 or 500€ bills) Like, "can I withdraw 5000€ in cash from my account consisting of only 100 & 200€ bills?"

[–] ViatorOmnium@piefed.social 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Usually yes. Depending on the country that might land you a police list though.

[–] huppakee@piefed.social 3 points 2 days ago

Depending on the country

Also depending on the amount. I've also heard something about the amount being registered but the amount itself not even being the thing that is most suspect: frequency of a similar amount is what actually is the biggest red flag (so once 20.000 would be less suspect as taking 4.000 5 days in a row or every 60 days or something like that).

[–] NorskSud@piefed.social 1 points 2 days ago

Yes, that you can. These banknotes do exist and go around. But there's the unpractibility and the stigma of crime around them.

Austria likes their 500 and 200 bills a lot.

Fun moments when I came back to the Netherlands and had to find a place that would even take any of them.

[–] marv99@feddit.org 7 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Here in my place in Germany you can get up to 100€ bills from the ATMs. Some shops do not accept 200€ bills, more have no restrictions.

[–] Hapankaali@lemmy.world -4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Since I moved to Germany I noticed people under 80 paying with cash again. The other day I was in the supermarket and the customer in front of me paid with a €500 bill. The cashier coolly accepted the bill of undoubtedly criminal origin and handed back €400 plus in change.

[–] Humanius@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

undoubtedly criminal origin

What makes you so convinced it is a bill of criminal origin? To my knowledge Germany is generally still a cash-nation, moreso than other European countries

[–] Hapankaali@lemmy.world -5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

What's the alternative plausible explanation?

[–] poVoq@slrpnk.net 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Old used cars etc. sold privatly are often done in cash. And then the person selling the car has to use that cash somehow as bringing it to the bank is usually a hassle or even impossible if the bank you use has closed nearly all in person shops.

[–] Nibodhika@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I have lived in Europe for 6 of the past 7 years, never seen a €200 bill, I have used €500 ones before when I moved here and wanted to bring some cash with me in case of issues with cards, but realistically who uses cash nowadays?

[–] whyNotSquirrel@sh.itjust.works 14 points 2 days ago (1 children)

but realistically who uses cash nowadays?

Germans

[–] huppakee@piefed.social 4 points 2 days ago

I used to make fun of them not trusting digital money as much as the rest of the developed world, but I was wrong and they are right; Germany is one of the few places in Europe not totally dependent on Visa and Mastercard.

[–] War5oldier@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

who uses cash nowadays

Cash exists for a reason such as in the case of power outages, most payment systems are down in that type of scenario, since those are reliant on electricity so cash is a back up.

[–] Nibodhika@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

Yes, but you can just not buy things for the amount of time it takes for the power to come back on. Even on a nation wide blackout card machines still work, don't ask me how but I can definitely confirm this for sure since I was already living in Spain when the blackout happened and I went to the supermarket and got some things during the first hours. If a blackout goes on for long enough that I need to have money stashed there would be much bigger issues than that.

[–] Jeeve65@ttrpg.network 7 points 2 days ago (2 children)

ATMs here (Netherlands) max out at €50 bills

[–] Humanius@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

And many shops don't accept 200 or 500 euro notes at all