CFA (Communauté Financiaire Africaine) Franc (XAF) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of XAF10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of XAF500, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1. The Central African Republic is part of the French Monetary Area. Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank of West African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.

Currency can be exchanged at banks in Bangui and Berbérati.

Credit cards are not generally accepted, except in major hotels.

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Euros. Even so, commission rates can be very high.

Import and export of local currency from Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo is unlimited; for all other countries the import and export of local currency is limited to XAF75,000. The import of foreign currency is unlimited provided it is declared. The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount imported and declared.

Mon-Fri 0700-1230.