West African CFA Franc · FCFA · Shared currency of 8 West African nations (represented here by Senegal)
The West African CFA franc (FCFA) is the shared currency of eight West African nations, including Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire. Like the Central African CFA franc, it carries over from the former French colonial currency and is 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 West Africa's cultural and natural heritage.
Since it's pegged to the euro, there's relatively little to worry about in terms of exchange rate swings, but many countries outside the zone won't accept it, so it's worth not confusing it with other regional currencies. 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, if you're traveling across several West African nations, you can use it without re-exchanging.
You can view the real banknote designs on the BCEAO's official page.
See West African CFA Franc banknotes at today's exchange rate →