Central Bank of West African States (Benin – Letter B)
The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) serves as the issuing authority for Benin within a shared currency system identified by the country prefix “B”.
Quick Facts
Country: Benin
Currency: West African CFA Franc
Local name: Banque Centrale des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest
Institutional Identity
The BCEAO operates as a supranational central bank overseeing monetary policy, currency issuance and financial stability across the West African Economic and Monetary Union, with Benin fully integrated into this shared structure.
Historical Evolution
Benin has remained within the CFA franc system since independence, maintaining continuity through the 1994 devaluation, which redefined the structure of circulating banknotes across the region.
Design Philosophy
BCEAO banknotes used in Benin feature the iconic Akan sawfish (poisson-scie) emblem and are produced at the Banque de France printing works in Chamalières, combining regional symbolism with high-level European security standards.
For collectors
For collectors, Benin is identified through the “B” prefix, forming part of a structured multi-country system where identical notes become distinct collectible variants through serial coding and issuing allocation.