• A Russian bank treats a banknote as damaged if it has any defect that may affect its circulation: tears, tape repairs, missing fragments, foreign writing, stamps, heavy wear, stains, or signs of laundering.
• Whether to accept such a note is the bank's decision. The law does not require a cash desk to take it, and most branches will tolerate small defects but not serious ones.
• If the cash desk refuses, there is a workable option — submit the banknote on a collection basis (inkasso). The bank sends it for additional verification and, within 1–2 weeks, either returns the note or credits rubles to your account based on the result.
• The final "last resort" is exchange through the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing (a US Treasury agency). Severely damaged notes go there (more than 50% missing, charred, or soaked). It is a long and, for Russians, complicated procedure — but it works.
• The widget below shows rates for regular USD notes at banks in Moscow. The rate for damaged banknotes is always lower, or simply not applied — the transaction goes through the collection process instead.

Below: what counts as damage, what a bank will definitely accept, what it definitely will not, and what to do in each case.

What counts as damage

Not every defect counts as "damage." Some are acceptable even at a strict cash desk.

Light defects (usually accepted). Faint folds down the middle, slight corner wear, small stains that don't cover security features, minor creases. This is a normal banknote "in circulation" and most banks will take it at the standard rate.

Moderate defects (accepted with caution). Noticeable edge tears (up to 1–1.5 cm), small missing corners, clear tape marks, pencil or pen notes in non-critical areas, ink stamps. Some branches will accept such a note at the full rate after verification, others at a reduced rate, others will send it on a collection basis.

Serious defects (usually refused at the cash desk). Tears longer than 2 cm or through-holes, missing fragments, glue or heavy tape marks, writing over security features or over the denomination, blood stains or similar organic contamination, signs of burning. Cash desks rarely take such notes — you'll need the collection process or an appeal to the US Federal Reserve.

Banknotes with obvious signs of tampering or counterfeiting. Forged parts, fragments glued in from other notes, chemical traces — these are grounds for confiscation with an official report. Don't try to hand in such a note at the cash desk without knowing its origin: when counterfeiting is suspected, the bank is required to record the fact.

The most common cases and what to do

A banknote torn in half and taped together. If both halves are from the same note (the serial numbers must match on both sides), the bill can usually be exchanged. At a regular cash desk it goes through with difficulty, at a reduced rate, or via the collection process. Try a flagship branch of a major bank instead.

A banknote with writing or a stamp. If the writing is in a non-critical area (the margins), it is often accepted at the regular rate. If the writing crosses the portrait or covers the denomination, it counts as a serious defect — most likely a collection submission.

A banknote that's been through the washing machine. If it is intact, with no separating layers and no serious color loss, it is usually accepted. Check that the paper hasn't "split" — the security thread should still be in place and the surface even.

A banknote with a charred corner. If less than 10–15% of the area is lost and the serial number is fully visible on both sides, there's a chance via the collection process. With greater loss — only the US Federal Reserve.

A banknote whose layers are separating. This is usually the result of chemical exposure or heavy moisture. The cash desk won't take it. The collection process or an appeal to the US Federal Reserve is possible.

The difference between "refused" and "accepted"

If the teller takes the note and processes the transaction, you walk out with rubles. If they refuse, you have three options.

Option 1. Try another bank. A flagship branch of the same bank, or a different major bank, often has a softer policy. Two or three phone calls are usually enough to find one.

Option 2. Submit it on a collection basis (inkasso) at the same or another bank. This is a formal process: the bank takes the note, issues an acceptance receipt, and sends it for verification through its collection channel. Turnaround is 1–2 weeks. The rate on the result is usually close to the standard rate, with no penalty for damage — because the bank only applies a rate once authenticity is confirmed.

Option 3. If the damage is severe and the collection route isn't possible, apply to the US Federal Reserve via the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP). There is a separate section on this below.

Compare rates right now

The widget below shows Moscow banks with current USD/RUB rates. This is the rate for normal banknotes. For damaged notes, depending on the extent of damage and the bank, the rate may be 2–10% lower:

Comparison table: damage versus strategy

What the collection process looks like in detail

The collection process (inkasso) is a procedure where the bank accepts a damaged banknote not for immediate exchange but to send it for verification. The steps are as follows.

1. You come to the branch with the banknote and your passport. Go to a large flagship branch with experience handling collection submissions — not a small office tucked inside a shopping center in a residential district.
2. You explain the situation. The teller (or a floor specialist) inspects the note visually. If they confirm it can be sent on a collection basis, they process the submission.
3. You sign an application. It lists the banknote's details (series, serial number, defect), the amount, and the account to receive the credit.
4. You receive a document. This is your confirmation that the bank holds the note. Keep it.
5. You wait 1–2 weeks. The bank runs its own check and, if needed, forwards the note to a foreign correspondent bank for additional verification.
6. You receive the money or a refusal. If the note is found to be genuine, rubles at the bank's rate are credited to your account (less any collection fee — usually 1–3% or a flat amount). If it is found doubtful, the note is not returned and an official report is issued.

Most major Russian banks offer collection services for foreign currency. Check fees and turnaround times at the specific bank in advance.

Applying to the US Federal Reserve: is it realistic

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is a US Treasury agency that exchanges mutilated banknotes. It's the last resort for notes so damaged that an ordinary bank can't accept them.

It applies if:

• Your banknote has lost more than 50% of its surface area.
• The note is charred, soaked, or moldy.
• There is no doubt about the note's authenticity (the BEP will verify it).

The procedure:

1. Keep the banknote in its current condition. Don't try to glue or restore it.
2. Fill out the Mutilated Currency Submission form. It is available on the BEP website. The form is in English.
3. Send the banknote and form to the US by registered mail (USPS Registered Mail or DHL).
4. Wait. Processing at the BEP can take 12 months or more. This is not a fast process.
5. Receive the funds. If authenticity is confirmed, the BEP transfers the amount to a US bank account. For residents of Russia this is an extra hurdle, since you need a US account or a partnership with a correspondent bank.

Realistically, for a private individual in Russia, applying to the BEP is a complicated procedure that only makes sense when a single note is worth several hundred dollars or more, or when the banknote is especially valuable (a historical specimen, for example). For an everyday torn $100 bill, it's overkill — use the collection process inside Russia instead.

Where not to try to hand in a damaged banknote

The airport. Tellers there have neither the time nor the equipment to assess a damaged note — you will almost certainly be refused.

Small bank branches in shopping centers. Staff have limited experience with the collection process, so a refusal is the most likely outcome.

Service points at train stations. Same problem.

Ads from private buyers of foreign currency. Beyond the usual risks, you have no protection if the note turns out to be a fake.

Where to read next

• Where to exchange dollars in Moscow — a general guide.
• Are older dollars accepted in Russia — about pre-2006 series.
• Which US dollar bills banks accept in Russia — a detailed breakdown of series and condition.

FAQ

Do banks in Russia accept torn dollar bills?

It depends on the extent of damage. A light tear up to 1 cm — usually yes, at most banks. A note torn in half and taped — with difficulty, and better at a flagship branch or via the collection process. Serious damage — only via the collection process or the US Federal Reserve.

Can damaged dollars be handed in through a bank?

Yes, via the collection process (inkasso). The bank takes the note, sends it for verification, and within 1–2 weeks either credits rubles to your account or returns the note with a report.

How much does collection of a damaged banknote cost?

Fees depend on the bank. Usually 1–3% of the amount, or a flat fee of 200–500 rubles per transaction. Check the specific terms at the bank before submitting.

Can a taped banknote be exchanged in Russia?

If the tape holds a single banknote together (not two fragments from different bills), and both halves are fully present — yes, there's a chance. The odds are better at flagship branches. Otherwise, the collection process.

What to do if a banknote has been through the wash?

If it is intact, with no layer separation, it is usually accepted, sometimes with verification. If the layers have separated — only the collection process or the Fed.

Can a banknote with writing on it be exchanged?

It depends on where the writing is. On the margins — usually yes, at the regular rate. On the portrait or over the denomination — it counts as a serious defect, most likely requiring a collection submission.