What Is a Currency Buy-Back Service and How Does It Work?

Most travellers come home with foreign notes they will never spend, and the drawer they end up in pays no interest. A currency buy-back service turns those notes back into pounds. Providers such as Travel FX offer currency buy-back alongside ordinary travel money, so the process works in both directions.

The basic steps

You confirm the currency and amount, agree the buy-back rate, send or deliver the notes, and receive pounds once they are checked. Reputable services quote the rate before you commit.

Notes, not coins

Buy-back services generally accept banknotes only, so spend coins before the flight home or drop them in a charity envelope.

A two-way provider

Travel FX is a UK online currency exchange with more than 18 years of trading and a 5-star Trustpilot rating from around 32,800 reviews.