Project new banknote series
Development of the new banknote series
The Swiss National Bank begins developing its tenth banknote series. In doing so, it is ensuring that Swiss banknotes continue to meet the latest standards with regard to functionality and security over the long term.
Theme
The theme of the new banknote series is 'Switzerland and its altitudes'. It pays homage to the country's unique topography, from the Jura and the Central Plateau to the Alps, and depicts Switzerland from its deepest valleys to its highest peaks. The new series aims to reflect the diversity of life at the various altitudes.
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Announcement of finalists
The SNB has nominated the six finalists for the design competition for the new banknote series. The designers of concepts B, G, H, J, K and L will go through to the final phase of the competition. The decision was based on the results of the public survey and the evaluation conducted by an advisory board of external experts.
Design competition concepts
Between February and July 2025, twelve teams drew up designs for the new banknote series as part of a design competition. The theme of the new banknote series is 'Switzerland and its altitudes'.
1 von 12
Next steps
On behalf of the SNB, the opinion polling company Demo SCOPE AG conducted a survey among the Swiss population between 13 August 2025 and 7 September 2025 in which more than 100,000 people participated.
The results of the survey, together with an evaluation of the banknote designs by an advisory board made up of experts from a range of disciplines, will be factored into the selection of the future banknotes.
In the second phase of the design competition, the remaining six teams will draw up their proposals for a possible commission to realise the banknote designs. During this phase, the SNB will also clarify with the designers the framework for any further cooperation.
As specified in the competition regulations, the six remaining concepts will be evaluated based on the banknote designs submitted in the first phase of the competition (60%) and the review of the proposals as well as the suitability for cooperation in the second phase of the competition (40%). The conditions for the design competition can be found in the competition regulations.
Design competition participants
Until 11 December 2024, any designer working in Switzerland could apply to take part in the design competition. In total, over 300 designers submitted applications. Based on criteria such as the quality of their portfolio to date, the creativity of their designs, and their professional qualifications, the SNB selected the following twelve teams and individuals to participate in the competition:
| Candidacy | Business name/team | Name | Place of work |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Alltag Agentur GmbH | Philip Bührer | St. Gallen |
| B | Norr Design AG | Stefan Fraefel | Zug |
| Sina Stähli | |||
| Anna Kleger | |||
| C | Studio Daniel Peter | Daniel Peter | Berne |
| D | C2F AG | Fabienne Burri | Lucerne |
| Cybu Richli | |||
| E | Bienvenue Design Studios GmbH | Oliver Hischier | Zurich |
| Xiaoqun Wu | |||
| HOMI | Christian Hofer | Basel | |
| Lea Michel | Zurich | ||
| F | Moiré Grafik GmbH | Marc Kappeler | Zurich |
| Dominik Huber | |||
| Offshore | Isabel Seiffert | ||
| G | Skala Design GmbH | Arjun Gilgen | Zurich |
| Stefan Hürlemann | |||
| H | Studio Marcus Kraft | Marcus Kraft | Zurich |
| I | - | Blaise Magnenat | Lausanne |
| Delphine Passaquay | |||
| Olivier Weber | |||
| J | Emphase Sàrl | Fabienne Kilchör | Lausanne |
| Sébastien Fasel | |||
| K | Custer Waller Sagl | Giulio Waller | Lugano |
| L | Maxitype Sàrl | Julien Tavelli | Geneva |
| David Keshavjee |
Advisory board
The advisory board consists of the following six members:
- Christine Abbt, Professor of Philosophy, University of St. Gallen
- Carine Bachmann, Director, Federal Office of Culture
- Andrea Dreier, Graphic Designer, Lecturer, Member of Management Board at Swiss Graphic Design Association
- Beat Kneubühler, Director, dpsuisse and viscom (trade associations for print and communications industry)
- Gordon Nemitz, Co-CEO, thjnk Zürich AG communications agency
- Johannes Schaede, Board Member, Orell Füssli Ltd
Why new banknotes?
Banknotes and coins are legal tender in Switzerland. Although cash usage has declined in recent years, cash remains a widely used payment method. Around one in three payments in Switzerland is settled with cash. The vast majority of people in Switzerland would like to retain the option of paying with cash in the future, and have the choice of paying either with cash or electronically.
Unlike cashless payment methods, cash has specific advantages that are attributable to its physical properties - it is available to everyone and is simple to use. Paying by cash requires neither a device nor electricity. With cash, payments can thus be made reliably even in situations where, for example, the power fails or cashless payment methods cannot be used for some other reason. Cash can also help to protect privacy and make it easier to control spending.
One of the SNB's statutory tasks is to ensure the supply and distribution of cash commensurate with demand for payments. It does everything in its power to ensure that Swiss banknotes are secure and state-of-the-art in the long term. As technology develops quickly, the SNB must constantly work to stay ahead so that counterfeit notes can be detected as easily as possible. Ongoing development in terms of security technology and the redesign of the banknotes is therefore central to the fulfilment of the SNB's mandate.