Franc Democracy

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Switzerland practices direct democracy: its 9 million citizens are consulted about four times a year on federal issues and have up to 100 cantonal referendums.
About 100,000 people voted online on 12 sets of designs for banknotes of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 1,000 francs.
The online poll was combined with analysis by an expert advisory board.
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) announced the winning designs in March; the designs were created by Emphase, a Lausanne-based studio.

Proposed topic: “Switzerland and its altitudes,” highlighting geographic diversity: the Jura region; the Swiss Plateau; the lowlands (valleys and cities such as Geneva and Basel); the Alpine foothills; the Alps; and the High Alps.
Emphase designs feature:
- Scale drawings of native plants found at different altitudes on one side of the notes.
- Striking landscapes and “civilizational achievements” on the other side: Alpine vistas, cable cars, famously punctual trains, the CERN research center, and the hi-tech Monte Rosa Hut atop a 4,634-meter massif.
Quotation: “With its precision and craftsmanship, this concept impressively articulates the diversity and quality of Switzerland,” said Sébastien Kraenzlin, alternate member of the central bank board.

The new notes will not circulate until after 2030, following more development and incorporation of security features.
The SNB noted: “The security elements and manufacturing processes are becoming more complex.”
Developing a new series “offers more opportunities to improve banknotes, whether in terms of security, functionality, or graphic design.”

A recent referendum enshrined access to cash in the Swiss Constitution, reinforcing the central bank’s mandate to always ensure an adequate supply of coins and notes.
Cash usage trends:
- About 1 in 3 in-person transactions are made in cash.
- Cash usage is down from 70 percent in 2017.
- Many prefer the fast payment app TWINT.
Switzerland replaces its banknotes every 15–20 years; the forthcoming series will be the bank’s 10th.

Switzerland preserves the 1,000 franc bill (about $1,250), the world’s largest denomination in active circulation.
Most countries have discontinued large bills, which are seen as mostly facilitating money laundering and tax evasion; the European Central Bank stopped issuing new €500 notes in 2019.
SNB payment methods survey findings: about a quarter of respondents reported owning 1,000 franc bills in the past two years, using them mostly for payments, not to store value.
SNB statement: “The current denominations have proven themselves reliable and, from today’s perspective, should therefore be retained.”

Franc Democracy — F&D Magazine, ANDREAS ADRIANO, June 2026.

Franc Democracy
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