Swiss franc CHF

The Swiss franc is one of the most popular currencies in the world. It is the official currency of Switzerland and Liechtenstein, controlled by the Swiss National Bank. The Swiss franc is known for its strength and stability, and Swiss banks are among the most powerful globally.

History of the Swiss Franc

In 1907, the Swiss National Bank took over the issuance of banknotes from cantonal and other banks, introducing denominations of 50, 100, 500, and 1000 francs. In 1911, the 20 franc note was added. A few years later, the Federal Treasury issued 5, 10, and 20 franc paper notes.

The Swiss National Bank has printed eight series of banknotes, six of which were for public circulation.

The current series is the ninth, featuring denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 1000 francs. The 500 franc note was discontinued as the 200 franc note proved more popular and successful.

Interesting Facts About the Swiss Franc

Currently, the Swiss franc, along with the Canadian dollar, ranks sixth to seventh among the most traded currencies worldwide.

Swiss francs have been produced in multiple languages—French, Italian, and German—because of the Latin Monetary Union formed in 1865 by these countries. Multiple languages are also used due to Switzerland's demographic diversity, with significant populations speaking these three languages.