• Light damage (small edge tears, a bit of wear, small stains) most banks in Moldova take without fuss.
• Serious damage (large tears, missing pieces, taped repairs, stamps, writing) — the call is made by the specific bank looking at the specific note.
• Don't try to "fix" a note yourself — tape, glue and bleaching only make it worse.
• Before you go in with damaged notes, always call the bank or bring some clean notes as backup.
• If every bank says no — there's the US Treasury replacement programme, but in Moldova that route is rare and slow.

What counts as a "damaged note"

Damage on dollars falls into a few categories — from light to severe. Banks accept or reject based on the overall picture.

Natural wear. Creases, light wear, a bit of yellowing. Normal for a note in circulation. Not counted as damage.

Light defects. Small edge tears (up to 5 mm), small stains, light folds. Accepted almost always.

Medium defects. Larger tears (5–20 mm), noticeable stains, tape repairs, handwriting or numbers. The teller decides, sometimes the manager.

Serious defects. Missing fragments (>10%), torn notes, heavy soiling, chemical damage. Often refused.

Critical. Half a note or less, charred, soaked beyond recognition. Usually not taken.

What matters more — the damage or the security features

The main question for the bank is whether the note's security features are still visible. If the watermark, security thread, serial number and portrait are all there and readable, the note will probably pass. If the damage runs through the security strip or covers the portrait — a refusal is likely.

Which means a "badly battered" note can be less of a problem than a "nearly intact" one with a tear across the security strip. The teller isn't looking at aesthetics, but at function.

Comparison table: damage types and the chances of acceptance

Compare USD rates in the widget

If you have both clean and damaged notes, exchange the clean ones first. The widget shows which banks have the best USD rate right now.

For damaged notes, the rate leader isn't always the "leniency" leader. Sometimes you're better off at a bank with a middling rate but a reputation for taking awkward notes. Ask on the phone.

What not to do with a damaged note

A few important "don'ts":

Don't use tape. It feels like a fix, but tape adds foreign material, and the teller reads it as extra damage, not restoration.

Don't try to clean stains with water, alcohol or solvent. That usually smears the ink and damages security features.

Don't iron the note flat. It can wreck heat-sensitive security features (modern notes have them).

Don't trim the torn edges. Making the note smaller is its own category of damage.

Don't paste over writing or stamps. The cover-up alone raises suspicion.

Don't pack a damaged note in your wallet with others so the damage gets worse. Put it in a separate envelope or sleeve.

In short: if a note is damaged, leave it as is and go to the bank. Any DIY "repair" usually only makes things worse.

Algorithm by type of damage

Light damage. Go to the bank as usual. The teller takes a look — most likely no problem.

Medium damage. Call one or two banks from the top of the widget. Describe it: "I have a 100 USD note with a tear at the bottom, about 1 cm, not through the security features. Will you take it?" Decide based on the answer.

Serious damage. Don't go in blind. Call several banks first, describe the note, maybe send a photo. Find a bank willing to look at it. Then go.

Critical damage. In Moldova every bank is likely to say no. Options:

1. If you can — take the note to the US and exchange it at a Federal Reserve or commercial bank there.
2. Mail it to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) — they run a damaged-currency replacement programme for individuals. Long road, but a real one.
3. Keep it as a souvenir — sometimes that's the most practical outcome.

More on serious damage cases

Note torn in half. If you have both halves, most banks accept it as long as you bring both and the serial number is visible on both parts. Sometimes a written request and verification are needed.

Note accidentally washed in your jeans pocket. If the security features survived and it's still readable — accepted. Heavily faded or with smeared ink — they may refuse.

Note partly burned. If less than 25% of the area is damaged and the serial number is readable — there's a chance. Heavily burned — almost never accepted.

Note with marker writing (e.g. a test mark). Here it depends on what's written and where. Small shop test marks — sometimes accepted. Large marker writing — almost never.

Note with a bank stamp (e.g. an "examined" stamp from another bank). Sometimes accepted, sometimes not. Depends on whether the stamp blocks the security features.

Note taped together after a tear. Tricky. Many banks refuse because the tape covers some security features and looks suspicious in itself.

Scenario: a note torn in half at home

A shock, not a disaster. What to do:

1. Gather both halves. If you still have them.
2. Don't tape them. Put them carefully in an envelope, both parts visible.
3. Call the bank. "I have a 100 USD note, torn in half, both halves with me, serial numbers visible. Do you take this?"
4. Go to the bank that's willing to look.
5. You may need to sign a request form. Sometimes the bank sends the note for extra verification, with the exchange after.
6. Set aside some time. Not a five-minute swap — a slower process.

In most cases Moldovan banks will work with you, as long as both halves are intact and match.

Step-by-step: handling a damaged note

Step 1. Assess the damage type against the table above: light, medium, serious, critical.

Step 2. Don't try to "fix" it. No tape, no gluing, no bleaching.

Step 3. Photograph the note from both sides in good light — handy for the call to the bank.

Step 4. Open the widget. Note the top three banks by USD rate.

Step 5. Call the leading bank. Describe the note: series, denomination, type of damage. Ask whether they'll accept it.

Step 6. If yes — go in. Bring your passport, the damaged note, and ideally a few clean ones as backup.

Step 7. Get a receipt. If accepted — the standard slip. If sent for review — a written confirmation.

Step 8. Plan B. If the bank refuses, try the next on the list. If everyone refuses, the US BEP programme is the last resort.

Checklist: "damaged note"

• [ ] I know the damage type (per the table above).
• [ ] I haven't tried to "fix" the note.
• [ ] I photographed the note (to describe over the phone).
• [ ] I called the bank before going.
• [ ] I have a plan B if refused.
• [ ] Passport on me.
• [ ] I have a clean note as backup (if possible).

Common mistakes

• Walking into a bank with a seriously damaged note without calling. You can burn half a day for nothing.
• Trying to "fix" the note. Almost always makes things worse.
• Going to a currency exchange booth. They're usually stricter on damage than banks.
• Accepting a "special rate" worse than usual with no explanation. Banks sometimes offer to take the note at a reduced rate — that's normal, but the terms have to be clear.
• Handing in damaged notes together with clean ones in one stack. Better to keep them separate and flag it upfront.
• Giving up after one refusal. Sometimes the second or third try works.

Frequently asked questions

Can I exchange a torn dollar in Moldova?

Depends how torn. A small tear — yes. Torn in half — sometimes, if both parts are intact. Heavily damaged — rarely.

What if the note has been through the wash?

If it's readable and the security features are visible — most banks will take it. Heavily faded — could be a refusal.

Will a note with a stamp on it be accepted?

Depends on the stamp and the bank. Best to check ahead.

Can I send a damaged dollar to the US?

Yes, through the Bureau of Engraving and Printing programme. Long road (several months), but workable for critical cases.

Should I "fix" the note before exchanging it?

No. Any "repair" creates more suspicion.

Which is better: exchange at a reduced rate or take it to another bank?

If the gap is small — better to exchange and be done with it. If the reduced rate is 10–20% lower — try another bank.

Can I exchange US dollar coins?

US coins are rarely exchanged in Moldova. Easier to keep as a souvenir or spend on a US trip.

The US replacement programme: how the BEP works

If every bank in Moldova has refused a heavily damaged note, there's a replacement programme at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) — the US federal office that prints dollars.

How it works:

• You mail the damaged note to the BEP in Washington.
• The Bureau examines it: authenticity, size of the surviving portion, readability of the serial number.
• If the note is deemed eligible — the BEP sends a cheque or transfer for the equivalent value.
• Turnaround — several months.

Conditions for replacement:

• The note is genuine (assessed by experts).
• At least 51% of the note has survived.
• The serial number is at least partly readable.

Heavily charred, soaked or chemically treated notes — reviewed individually, with expert involvement.

For most people in Moldova this is a rare and awkward route — postage to the US, a long wait, the language barrier on correspondence. It only makes sense for large denominations in tough cases.

Real cases from the ground

A few generalised situations Moldovan bank customers run into:

Note went through the wash. If the structure held and the security features are visible — most banks will take it. If the colour is gone — they may refuse or offer a reduced rate.

Note burned at the edge. If more than 75% survived and the serial number is visible — accepted. If the main part is damaged — needs expert review or the BEP route.

Note with an "examined" stamp from another bank. Accepted about half the time. Depends on the stamp and readability.

Note with glue or tape marks. If the glue doesn't cover the security features — sometimes accepted. If it does — refused.

Note cut in half and kept. With both parts and a visible serial number — almost always accepted.

Note torn through the security strip. The toughest case — the security thread is damaged and authenticity is hard to confirm visually. Often a refusal.

Bottom line

Damaged dollars can be exchanged in Moldova, but the process depends on the type of damage and the specific bank. Light defects — no problem. Serious — call first, be ready for a refusal. Critical — sometimes only via the US replacement programme. Don't try to "treat" the note yourself — it makes things worse. Keep clean notes separate from damaged ones, exchange the clean ones first, and handle the damaged ones with a plan.

Related reading: Do banks accept old dollars in Moldova, Which dollars Moldovan banks accept, Where to exchange dollars in Chisinau.