Let's break down exactly which dollars Kazakhstan's banks and exchange offices accept without questions, which may prompt discussion, and which definitely won't pass.

Issue year: doesn't matter

Under the rules of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, issue year is not grounds for refusing to exchange if the bill is fit for circulation. This applies to all US dollar series:

• 1969 series and later (older bills with the small portrait)
• 1990 series (with the dotted strip)
• 1996 series (large portrait, the classic "new" design)
• 1999 series
• 2003 series
• 2006 series
• 2009 series (with the large watermark and thread)
• 2013 series and later (the most recent design for the 100-dollar bill)

All these series must be accepted in Kazakhstan under NBK rules.

In practice: the newer the series, the lower the chances of nitpicking. The 2009 series and later usually raise no questions. The 1996 series is also widely accepted. With older series (1969, 1976) tellers may ask for a brief wait for a manual check, but the exchange will go through.

More on older bills.

Denomination: all accepted

In Kazakhstan, banks accept every dollar denomination:

• $1 — yes, but in small quantities. Exchanging a large stack of one-dollar bills can take time.
• $2 — a rare bill, but exchange is possible. Better to go to a major bank.
• $5, $10, $20, $50 — accepted everywhere, no questions.
• $100 — the most widespread denomination, accepted everywhere.

In practice: some exchange offices may set a minimum exchange amount (for example, no less than $20). This is because processing very small denominations is costly in teller time.

Bill condition

This is the main factor affecting acceptance:

Accepted without questions:

• New, crisp bills
• Lightly used, with no visible defects
• With minor folds, light wear
• With small pen markings
• With small stains that don't cover security features

Accepted, but they may ask for a longer check:

• Older series (pre-1990) with signs of natural wear
• Bills with noticeable dirt or smudges
• Lightly torn (tear of up to 5–10% of the area)
• With sections restored with tape (if it's two pieces of the same bill)

May not be accepted without the collection service:

• Significantly damaged (loss of more than 45% of the area)
• Bills that went through the wash and lost their security features
• Burned bills
• Bills treated with chemicals
• Bills with lost or unreadable serial numbers

More on damaged bills.

Foreign stamps

Sometimes dollars carry stamps — for example, from Arab banks or Asian exchange offices. Technically this is not grounds for refusing exchange in Kazakhstan. The bill remains genuine and payable.

In practice: some tellers may refuse or ask for an additional check. If the stamp raises questions, better to go to a major bank (Halyk, ForteBank, BCC) — they have more experience with varied bills.

Counterfeits and suspect bills

If a teller doubts the authenticity of a bill, they have the right to:

• Request additional verification (UV check, comparison with a reference)
• Send the bill in for expert examination
• Refuse the exchange

What if your bill turns out to be counterfeit?

Under Kazakhstan law, counterfeit banknotes are subject to seizure without compensation. The origin of the bill may also be investigated. This is a serious situation — so buy currency only at licensed locations.

How to check authenticity yourself:

• Hold the bill up to the light — you should see the watermark (portrait) and the security thread with "USA."
• Tilt the bill slightly — on modern series the denomination numeral shifts color (from the 2003 series onward).
• Under UV light, bills of different denominations glow different colors.
• By touch, a genuine bill has raised print.

Notes on other currencies

Though this article is about dollars, here's a quick word on other currencies in Kazakhstan:

Euro (EUR): bills of all series are accepted — from the first (blue, from 2002) to the second ("Europa," from 2013). Condition requirements are the same: 55% of the area, security features.

Russian rubles (RUB): bills of all issue years are accepted (including 1997, 2004, and the new series). Condition requirements are standard.

Chinese yuan (CNY): the fifth series is the widespread one. Bills in normal condition are accepted. Older series turn up less often, but if the signs of validity are intact, they are also fit.

Pre-exchange checklist

Before heading to the bank, check your bills at home:

• are the security features preserved (watermark, thread)
• are the serial numbers readable on both sides
• the bill has not lost more than 45% of its area
• there are no traces of chemical treatment
• there are no significant marks or stamps covering the main design
• the bills are stacked neatly — not bundled with rubber bands or staplers

If all points check out, the exchange will go through without issues.

Which banks in Almaty are easiest for "non-standard" bills

At major banks with rich exchange experience, tellers nitpick less:

• Halyk Bank — the largest player, lots of experience.
• Bank CenterCredit — consistently handles all series.
• ForteBank, Freedom Bank — also without much nitpicking.
• Bereke Bank — major branches work flexibly.

At small exchange offices in residential districts the attitude is more cautious — they may refuse over stamps, older series, or minor damage.

Common mistakes

Bringing old or damaged bills to a small exchange office. High risk of refusal. Better to go straight to a major bank.

Storing dollars on top of the fridge in a damp room. Security features can be compromised. Use a dry spot.

Bringing in bills with many stamps all at once. One or two stamps — acceptable. Dozens of stamps may raise questions.

Agreeing to a steep discount. If a teller says "I'll take it at a 30% discount" because of the bill's condition, that's already suspicious. Compare with other banks.

Not checking bills at home before going to the bank. A few minutes of inspection saves half an hour at the bank.

Frequently asked questions

What dollars are accepted at banks in Kazakhstan? Any series (1969 and later), any denominations ($1–$100), in normal condition — more than 55% of the area preserved, readable numbers, working security features.

Are 1996-series dollars accepted? Yes. It's a widespread series, accepted everywhere.

Can I exchange a bill with writing on it? If the writing is small and doesn't cover security features — yes. If it covers the portrait or the serial — they may refuse.

What do I do if the serial numbers on a bill are worn off? If at least one of the serial numbers is worn down to the point of being unreadable, a standard exchange isn't possible — only the collection service.

Are bills with foreign stamps accepted? Technically yes. In practice, better to go to a major bank where such bills are seen more often.

Which bills are the "easiest" to exchange? The 2003 series and later, in $50 and $100 denominations, in normal condition. There won't be questions about these anywhere.

Can I exchange a single $100 bill if its condition is suspect? Yes, banks are required to accept it if it's genuine and retains the signs of validity. If they doubt, expert examination may be required.

The bottom line

Banks in Kazakhstan accept any genuine dollars — any series and any denomination — provided the bill is fit for circulation (more than 55% of the area preserved, readable numbers, working security features).

Issue year doesn't matter. Stamps are not grounds for refusal. Condition is the main factor.

If your bills are in normal condition, pick a bank by rate and address through the table above. If you have doubts about a specific bill, go to a major bank (Halyk, ForteBank, BCC) — expert examination is faster there and decisions are made more flexibly.