Q COSTARICA — On July 1, 2026, the older 5, 10, and 25 colón coins will lose their legal tender status, meaning they will no longer be accepted for payment and will be withdrawn from circulation.
The ¢5 colon coin is being completely removed from the financial system.
The public banks, the Bank of Costa Rica (BCR), the Banco Nacional (BNCR), and the Banco Popular are the only banks accepting the old 5, 10, and 25 colón coins.
To exchange coins at any of the three banks, the basic requirements are: present a valid cedula (national identity card), passport, or DIMEX (residency card) for foreigners. Additionally, the coins must be counted and separated by denomination.
It is important to note that although the coins will lose their legal tender status on July 1, they can still be exchanged or deposited after that date, including at private banks, cooperatives, and credit unions.
The withdrawal of these coins was announced by the Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR)—Central Bank of Costa Rica, at the beginning of the year.
The 10-colón and 25-colón coins are being replaced with new, smaller versions, while the 5-colón coin will be completely withdrawn because the cost of producing it is higher than its face value.
Starting next month, the 10-colón coin will be the smallest denomination of cash in the country.
Banco de Costa Rica
Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) was the first to announce the change and began accepting the coins on Tuesday, June 23, at all its branches nationwide. For BCR customers, the service is available every day during normal business hours, and the funds will be deposited directly into their accounts.
For non-customers, BCR will accept the coins from Tuesday to Thursday during normal branch hours. In this case, the bank will offer the option of opening an account to receive the funds. Those who do not wish to open an account can exchange coins up to 100,000 colones, with a 4% commission on the amount requested.
In both cases, the coins must be pre-counted and separated by denomination.
An exception applies on the 15th and 30th of each month: customers can hand in the coins, but the count will be subject to review on the following business day.
Banco Nacional
The Banco Nacional (BNCR) will not differentiate between customers and non-customers. The bank will receive the coins for deposit or exchange to both customers and non-customers.
Deposits up to 30,000 colones are commission-free, and cash exchanges are free up to 10,000 colones per day. Service is primarily available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during morning or afternoon shifts, depending on the branch. The coins must be pre-counted and separated by denomination.
Banco Popular
Banco Popular is accepting coins exclusively from its active customers, with no limits, and the service is free of charge.
Service is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays during specific hours and will continue until the Central Bank sets a date for official demonetization.
Coins should be pre-counted and separated by denomination to expedite the process, although it is not necessary to separate them by alloy. For any transaction, the person only needs to present their valid identification.
Private banks
The private sector is also accepting the coins that will be withdrawn from circulation. BAC, for example, indicated that it will accept these denominations for its clients, offering them the option to exchange these coins so they don’t lose their money.
Why are the coins being changed?
The Central Bank reported that the currency renewal aims to improve the security and efficiency of the system.
The new coins use metal alloys that are more resistant to corrosion and easier to identify in automatic coin-operated machines.
The new coins are also part of thematic collections that highlight the country’s cultural and natural heritage, and incorporate more advanced engraving techniques to make them harder to counterfeit.