The Bosnia and Herzegovina Convertible Mark (Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian Latin: konvertibilna marka, Serbian Cyrillic: конвертибилна марка) (sign: KM; code: BAM) is the currency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It is divided into 100 fenings (Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian Latin: feninga, Serbian Cyrilic: фенинга).
The names derive from German Mark and Pfennig, hence the occasional local spelling of the subdivision as pfeniga.
Its ISO 4217 code is BAM; it is locally abbreviated KM (Latin) or КМ (Cyrillic).
BANKNOTES
In 1998, notes were introduced in denominations of 50 fenings, 1 mark, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 marks. 200-mark notes were added in 2002, whilst the 50-fening note was withdrawn from circulation on March 31, 2003.
The banknotes are issued by the Central Bank of Bosnia Herzegovina, with distinct designs for the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska, except for the 200-mark note. All notes are valid throughout the country.
The Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina (CBBH) reminds all citizens that the KM 5 banknote can be used as the legal tender until 31 December 2009.
Since 1 January 2010, KM 5 banknotes will no longer be the legal tender and cannot be accepted in circulation for settlement of any form of liabilities.
Commercial banks will continue to accept KM 5 banknotes from 1 January 2010 till 31 March 2010.
The KM 5 coin will stay in circulation.
The decision on withdrawall of KM 5 banknote from circulation was delivered by the CBBH Governing Board in March 2009.[2]
50 feninga/фенинга, (Skender Kulenović and Branko Ćopić) (withdrawn in 2003)
1 marka/марка (Ivan Frano Jukić and Ivo Andrić) (withdrawn in 2009)
5 maraka/марака (Meša Selimović) (withdrawn in the beginning of 2010)
10 maraka/марака (Mehmedalija Mak Dizdar and Aleksa Šantić)
20 maraka/марака (Antun Branko Šimić and Filip Višnjić)
50 maraka/марака (Musa Ćazim Ćatić and Jovan Dučić)
100 maraka/марака (Nikola Šop and Petar Kočić)
200 maraka/марака (Ivo Andrić)
Banknotes are in denomination of: 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 KM.
- 10 maraka/марака (Mehmedalija Mak Dizdar and Aleksa Šantić)
- 20 maraka/марака (Antun Branko Šimić and Filip Višnjić)
- 50 maraka/марака (Musa Ćazim Ćatić and Jovan Dučić)
- 100 maraka/марака (Nikola Šop and Petar Kočić)
- 200 maraka/марака (Ivo Andrić)
COINS
Coins are in denomination of 5, 10, 20 and 50 fenings, and 1, 2 and 5 KM.
* Be aware of 5 KM coins since it can rarely be fake, and by scratching the inside yellowish color you can distinct original from fake. It the color is removed easily it is a fake.
Currency Exchange
The Euro and US Dollar are the preferred foreign currencies. The Pound Sterling is rarely used.
Most of the shops will accept Euro cash for payment on a (1 EUR = 1.95583 BAM) basis.
Credit/Debit Cards and ATMs Credit cards are generally accepted.
ATMs is common thing in Sarajevo, but having some cash with you is advisable.
Traveller's Cheques Bosnia and Herzegovina is mostly a cash-only economy and traveller's cheques are exchanged only at select banks. Banking Hours Mon-Fri 0800-1900.
Euros are widely acceptable except in state institutions such as railway and bus station, post offices etc.
