CFA (Communauté Financière Africaine) Franc (XOF) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of XOF10,000, 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000. Coins are in denominations of XOF500, 200, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1. Benin is part of the French Monetary Area.

Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank of West African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro.

Currency can be exchanged at banks and in major hotels.

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted on a limited basis. Some banks may advance cash or visa cards.

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller’s cheques in Euros or Pounds Sterling.

Mon-Fri 0800-1100 and 1500-1700. Some banks may open on Saturday.

Date	Apr 07
£1.00=	XOF969.92
$1.00=	XOF491.10
Eur;1.00=	XOF655.96

The following items may be imported into Benin by persons over 15 years of age without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 25 cigars or 250g of tobacco.
• One bottle of wine and one bottle of spirits.
• 500ml of eau de toilette and 250ml of perfume.