Can you exchange old-series US dollars in Egypt — ATMs, shops, or exchange offices?
From messages by 3 participants in 1 source · Last activity: 56 days ago
When exchanging via ATM: the machine refused a $100 bill but accepted a $20 bill without issue — there may be denomination limits.
ATM: accepted $20, refused $100
According to locals, banks don't accept dollar bills issued before 2000, while bills from 2000 onward are accepted at full value. A torn or heavily crumpled note (e.g. a $5 bill) may be refused regardless of its issue year.
Rule: pre-2000 refused, post-2000 accepted
Locals sometimes try to slip old worn-out bills to tourists as change — this is apparently a common practice, so it's worth checking the notes you receive.
One workaround: exchange old bills for new $20 notes at a bank first, then feed those new $20s into an ATM to convert them to pounds.
Bank → new $20 bills → ATM
Hotel reception actually exchanged old-series dollar bills (not just accepting new ones), though it didn't work on the first attempt. A hotel porter also successfully exchanged an old bill.
Exchange via hotel porter
At the Reval Inn hotel, guests exchanged money via an ATM with apparently no commission charged.
ATM at Reval Inn hotel
Old-series dollar bills were refused in all shops. A guide offered to exchange them but at a very poor rate. Using an ATM to withdraw Egyptian pounds directly was the practical workaround.
ATMs located near Fix Price stores are popular with travelers — the constant queues suggest the exchange rate is noticeably better than at hotel desks.
ATMs near Fix Price store
Hotel reception staff said ATMs accept old-series bills as well, but this could not be personally verified — only new-series notes were available at the time.