Austrian National Bank reports 10,089 counterfeit euro banknotes seized in Austria in 2025, down 1.2%

The Austrian National Bank published its 2025 counterfeit cash statistics, reporting a slight fall in counterfeit euro banknotes detected in circulation in Austria to 10,089 (down 1.2% from 2024). Estimated losses from counterfeits declined 9.0% year on year to EUR 610,870. EUR 50 notes remained the most counterfeited denomination, accounting for 5,851 cases (57.9%), followed by EUR 20 (1,811; 18.0%) and EUR 100 (1,335; 13.2%). By region, Vienna recorded 5,061 counterfeits (50.2%), ahead of Lower Austria (1,601; 15.8%) and Upper Austria (878; 8.7%). Separately, police seized 13,614 counterfeit notes before they were used for payments, with the OeNB highlighting its analytical support to law enforcement and reiterating the ‘feel, look, tilt’ checks for verifying banknote authenticity. On cash access, the OeNB pointed to an agreement with municipal and city associations under which, since July 2025, it has been rolling out its own cash machines in rural municipalities with neither an ATM nor a bank branch, with up to 100–120 new installations planned. The release also summarised the European Central Bank’s work on a new euro banknote series, with final design submissions due by end-March 2026, a public vote on shortlisted designs planned for June to December 2026, and the ECB Governing Council expected to announce the selected design around end-2026 before moving to technical implementation and deciding on production and issuance timing.