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?
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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.
I work in a small store, we get about one to two customers a day paying with it.
When I worked in an electronics store, we had much more of them, but it was obviously still the lowest amount of all bills.So I wouldn’t say they’re uncommon, but of course they’re the rarest one to get. Not only because ATMs don’t have them, but also because people rarely withdraw 200+€ on a regular basis in the first place.
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.
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€.
Depending on the country. In Germany most used cars are bought with cash
Will electronic stores accept either 100 or 200€ bills when purchasing an iPhone for 1500€ upon paying in cash?
Having worked in one - yes, it’s no problem at all. If it’s too much (I think 3k was the threshold), a manager has to come and do a second run in the counterfeit detection machine, so it might take a while.
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It’s legal to buy things with cash. What would you be reported for? Of course if it’s fake cash, that’s illegal, but real cash is legal tender, and must be accepted, if it is reasonable. Buying 1.50 chewing gun with a 50eur bill? The shop does not need to accept it. Buying an item that costs 400eur using two 200eur bills? Perfectly reasonable.
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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.
In Austria ATMs do not only have 100 EUR bills, if you are not careful it will also hand out anytime it can.
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?”
Yes, that you can. These banknotes do exist and go around. But there’s the unpractibility and the stigma of crime around them.
Usually yes. Depending on the country that might land you a police list though.
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).
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.
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.
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
What’s the alternative plausible explanation?
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.
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?
but realistically who uses cash nowadays?
Germans
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.
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.
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.
ATMs here (Netherlands) max out at €50 bills
And many shops don’t accept 200 or 500 euro notes at all
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