If you’ve got a handful of colorful notes sitting in a drawer or you're eyeing a luxury watch from a boutique in Geneva, you’re probably thinking about the math. Converting francs to US dollars sounds like a straightforward Google search, but honestly? It’s kind of a mess if you don't know which "franc" you’re actually holding.
Money is weird.
Most people hear "franc" and immediately think of the Swiss Franc (CHF), that rock-solid currency that investors sprint toward whenever the global economy looks like it’s about to catch fire. But there’s also the CFA franc used across parts of Africa, and if you’ve found some old French Francs in a dusty attic box, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but those are basically souvenirs now.
Let's get into the weeds of how this conversion actually works in 2026, why the "mid-market rate" you see on XE.com is a bit of a lie for the average person, and how to avoid getting absolutely hammered by fees.
The Swiss Franc Powerhouse
The Swiss Franc is the big player. In the world of forex, it’s known as the "Swissie." When you're looking at converting francs to US dollars, the CHF/USD pair is what most traders are screaming about.
Why? Because Switzerland is the world’s safe haven.
When inflation spikes in the US or geopolitical tensions rise, the franc usually gets stronger. This means your US dollar doesn't go as far. For example, back in the day—we're talking decades ago—you could get multiple francs for a single dollar. Those days are gone. For a while now, the two currencies have hovered near "parity," which is just a fancy way of saying $1 is roughly equal to 1 CHF.
But "roughly" is where the banks make their meat.
If the official exchange rate is 0.88, a retail bank might sell you dollars at 0.92. That tiny gap is called the "spread." It’s how they pay for those fancy glass buildings in Zurich and New York. If you’re moving $10,000, that spread can cost you hundreds of dollars. It’s a quiet tax on the uninformed.
The Ghost of the French Franc
I get emails about this all the time. Someone finds a 100-franc note from 1990 and thinks they’ve struck gold.
They haven't.
🔗 Read more: Dow Jones Index Close: What Most People Get Wrong About Market Trends
France switched to the Euro on January 1, 1999 (physically in 2002). For a while, the Banque de France allowed people to exchange their old paper notes. But those deadlines have long since passed. If you have French francs, they are no longer legal tender. You can't convert them to US dollars at a bank. Your best bet is selling them to a collector on eBay or keeping them as a reminder of a time when Europe had a lot more types of paper in its wallets.
The West and Central African Connection
Then there’s the CFA Franc. This is a whole different beast. It’s used by 14 countries in Africa and is pegged to the Euro.
- West African CFA franc (XOF)
- Central African CFA franc (XAF)
Because these are pegged to the Euro at a fixed rate, converting these francs to US dollars is essentially a two-step dance. The value of the CFA franc moves in lockstep with the Euro. If the Euro gets crushed against the Dollar, the CFA franc goes down with it. It provides stability for trade within those regions, but it makes the conversion to USD feel like a roller coaster depending on what the European Central Bank is doing.
Why the Rate You See Isn't the Rate You Get
You pull out your phone. You type "1000 francs to USD" into the search bar. Google tells you it’s $1,140. You go to a currency exchange kiosk at the airport, hand them 1000 francs, and they hand you back $1,020.
You’ve just been "airported."
The rates posted on financial news sites are "interbank rates." That is the price at which giant banks like JPMorgan and UBS trade millions of dollars with each other. You are not a giant bank. You are a retail customer.
- The Margin: This is the percentage the provider adds to the interbank rate.
- The Service Fee: A flat fee just for the "privilege" of the transaction.
- The Hidden Markup: Some places claim "0% Commission" but then give you an exchange rate that is 5% worse than the market. It's a classic shell game.
Real World Example: The Swiss Trip
Imagine you're in Bern. You want to buy a luxury watch for 5,000 CHF.
If you use a standard US debit card that charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, you're paying an extra $150 just for the "service" of the bank clicking a button. If you use a specialized travel card like Revolut or Wise, you might pay closer to $20 in total fees.
That’s a lot of chocolate you could have bought instead.
Timing the Market: Is it Possible?
Everyone wants to know if they should wait until next week to convert their money. Honestly? Unless you're a professional macro-analyst, you're guessing.
The USD is influenced by Federal Reserve interest rate hikes. The Swiss Franc is influenced by the Swiss National Bank (SNB). In 2015, the SNB did something legendary and terrifying: they suddenly unpegged the franc from the euro. The franc skyrocketed in value instantly. People lost fortunes in minutes.
The takeaway? The Swiss Franc is stable until it isn't. If you need to convert a large sum for a business deal or a house purchase, it’s often better to use a "forward contract." This lets you lock in today's rate for a transfer you'll make in the future. It removes the gamble.
How to Actually Convert Francs Without Getting Ripped Off
If you are holding Swiss Francs or CFA Francs and need US Greenbacks, stop going to physical banks. Just don't do it.
Digital-first platforms are the way to go. Companies like Wise (formerly TransferWise) use the real mid-market rate and show you exactly what their fee is upfront. It’s transparent. It's fast.
If you're already on the ground in Switzerland, avoid the "Euronet" ATMs. You've seen them—they're blue and yellow and usually sit in high-traffic tourist areas. They will offer to do the "conversion" for you. Always decline. If the ATM asks if you want to be charged in your home currency (USD) or the local currency (CHF), always choose the local currency. Let your own bank at home do the math; the ATM's "convenience" rate is almost always a predatory scam.
The Future of the Franc
As we move deeper into 2026, the conversation around converting francs to US dollars is changing because of digital currencies. The SNB has been experimenting with "wholesale CBDCs" (Central Bank Digital Currencies). This might eventually make the settlement of these conversions near-instant and much cheaper.
But for now, we are stuck with the old rails.
Whether you're a traveler, an expat, or an investor, the rule is the same: Knowledge of the "spread" is your best weapon. Don't look at the big number on the screen; look at the final amount that actually lands in your account.
Next Steps for Your Money
First, verify exactly which franc you are holding. If it's Swiss (CHF), check the current SNB interest rate announcements, as these will dictate short-term swings against the dollar. For any amount over $500, avoid physical exchange booths at all costs. Instead, set up a multi-currency account through a fintech provider to capture the mid-market rate. If you're dealing with "legacy" francs like the French or Belgian varieties, contact a numismatic expert rather than a bank, as their value is now strictly in the collector's market. Finally, if you're using a credit card abroad, ensure it has a No Foreign Transaction Fee policy to bypass the standard 3% surcharge most banks sneak into your statement.