People still find ₹2000 notes in old wallets, lockers and a relative’s savings box. They are not worthless, but you can no longer take them to a bank branch or feed them into a cash deposit machine. Here is what still works in 2026.
Where things stand
- The RBI announced the withdrawal of ₹2000 notes from circulation on 19 May 2023.
- Bank branches stopped exchanging and accepting them on 7 October 2023.
- According to the RBI’s press release of 1 April 2026, 98.45% of the notes had come back, and notes worth ₹5,501 crore were still with the public on 31 March 2026.
- The notes remain legal tender. That is why the RBI still accepts them.
Option 1: visit an RBI Issue Office
Nineteen RBI Issue Offices exchange ₹2000 notes or accept them for deposit into your bank account:
Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Belapur (Navi Mumbai), Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kanpur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Patna and Thiruvananthapuram.
Carry an original identity document. For a deposit, also carry your bank account details. Expect a form and a queue; mornings on weekdays are usually quieter.
Option 2: send them by India Post
If none of these cities is near you, you can send the notes through India Post to any of the 19 Issue Offices for credit to your bank account. The RBI publishes the form to include with the notes. Use insured post and keep the receipt and tracking number.
What no longer works
- Bank branches and their counters: closed for ₹2000 exchange since October 2023.
- Cash Deposit Machines and recyclers: banks no longer credit ₹2000 notes through their machines, so keep them out of the deposit tray.
- Shops and petrol pumps: the note is legal tender, but most traders refuse it because they cannot bank it easily.
Watch out for “exchange agents”
Some people offer to exchange old notes for a commission, or ask you to hand them the notes and your ID. You have no protection if they disappear. The RBI route is free.
For your other notes (₹100, ₹200, ₹500), see how to deposit cash at an SBI CDM. Kerala readers can find the RBI Issue Office in Thiruvananthapuram, and Odisha readers in Bhubaneswar.
Common questions
Will an RBI office take a large amount?
Deposits into your own bank account are accepted after identity checks. Large amounts may bring the usual tax questions about the source of the cash, as with any big deposit.
Can someone else exchange notes on my behalf?
Check the latest RBI instructions before sending someone, as identity proof is required and rules for representatives can change.
Are damaged ₹2000 notes accepted?
Soiled or mutilated notes are handled under the RBI’s note refund rules, which allow full or partial value depending on the damage.
Last checked: October 2026, against the RBI press release on withdrawal of ₹2000 denomination banknotes (status as of 31 March 2026). Arrangements can change; check rbi.org.in before travelling.
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