Central African CFA Franc · FCFA · Shared currency of 6 Central African nations (represented here by Cameroon)
The Central African CFA franc (FCFA) is the shared currency of six Central African nations, including Cameroon, Chad, and the Republic of the Congo. It carries over from the former French colonial currency system and is currently pegged to the euro.
Various denominations circulate, including 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000 francs, with a shared design across member countries featuring Africa's cultural and natural heritage.
Since it's pegged to the euro, there's relatively little exchange rate risk, but it looks similar to the West African CFA franc (XOF) despite being a completely separate, non-interchangeable currency, so it's worth being careful not to mix them up. Outside major cities, card payments are limited, so cash is essential, and exchanging at a licensed bank is the safer option. Since member countries share the same currency, you can use it without re-exchanging if traveling across several Central African nations.
You can view the real banknote designs on the BEAC's official page.
See Central African CFA Franc banknotes at today's exchange rate →