I have some old Swiss Francs that have since undergone a re-design and I cannot get them exchanged overseas without being offered a lower rate.

Is there a bank/currency place at ZRH that will exchange such notes for you? It's not a lot, maybe 1000 Francs, but I need to do something with them eventually...

I'll watch for the answer to this. I tend to keep my pocket cash after trips, partly in hopes I'll return somewhere enjoyable, but have been caught with old notes that get hard to exchange.

In London, I disposed of old paper pound notes (would've required a trip to a particular, inconvenient branch of the Bank of England to swap) by dropping them into the donation bin at the British Museum. I figured it was still charitable, and less hassle for a large organization to deposit than a foreigner to exchange.

I had like �‎‎20-40, though, not 1000. (Only the former is in line with my usual spot donations to a charity. I'd be planning my giving at the latter rate.)

Have you checked the ZRH website? That will list if there are any bank counters (rather than ATMs)

But I would also check what the procedure is in Switzerland for exchanging withdrawn notes for new. it may not be as simple as going to any bank. to swap them and bureau de change may not accept them either to be converted into another currency.

1,000 CHF seems to be worth close to �880/$1,100 so a substantial amount so something you need to do properly

There are bank branches, not just ATMs, at ZRH. If necessary, Z�rich is a very short train ride from the airport.

Thanks guys. I'm also wondering whether these banknotes might be perfectly fine to be used in Switzerland, and that only overseas money-changers are unhappy to take them unless you agree to a lower exchange rate? Hence, a bit of shopping at ZRH might be a better alternative to dealing with banks...

Anyone here living in Switzerland perhaps knows what the deal is with paper currency?

The SOP for exchanging "old" bank notes with "new" ones is very similar throughout Europe, but deadlines do change. I've been through a few such changes (last one being Drachmas, Lire and DM to €) and more than 20 years later I still find some relics from the different countries I've lived in at several, unexpected places in my house. Anyway, after a period lasting several months to a couple of years after the change when both kinds of notes are legal, you can exchange old for new at all local banks for a few more years (~5�). From then one an exchange is only possible at branches of the different central banks of the individual country for a rather long period (I'd say decades). Whether such a procedure can be carried out fast or not is a big question and I doubt that you'll get a good answer in a forum such as this. The big difficulty will always be finding a branch of the central bank of which, usually, there are few, given that the work they do is not addressed at "common people".

Anyway, here is official info on this matter, provided by the SNB!

In Zurich the only place to exchange old CHF notes is the Swiss National Bank, takes about 25 minutes to get there from the airport via train and then tram 2.

You can just walk in, no security screening, there are never more than 1 or 2 people waiting, and for 1000 francs they will just exchange them over the counter, no questions asked and no ID needed.

Only notes of the 6th series and 8th series can be redeemed, however the Swiss national bank will also take current coins and notes and change them to whatever you ask for. Silver-coloured 5 rappen are also accepted for redemption.

In theory, old notes can also be exchanged at the headquarters of the Cantonal Bank of each canton (not Zurich as the national bank is there), at the special National Bank agency counter, not the regular counters. This may require making an appointment or they have very limited opening hours. Some cantonal banks may refuse if you are not a customer, apparently this is not permitted but as a non-Swiss you can't do much about it.

Commercial banks in Zurich will not take old notes. But they may do if you have an account and are a high value customer.

Many thanks guys. Seems like a trip into town will be necessary though SNB's working hours mean that I won't be able to do it on the outbound due to a 16:40 arrival time at ZRH. Will have to plan a trip on the return as I will definitely have a morning arrival from SIN.

So there aren't any money changers or banks that would do this at the airport for like a 5% fee?

Top two links on the Swiss National Bank website have all the info you need: https://www.snb.ch/en/

They won't accept the old bank notes of the 6th and 8th series. (see link above provided by KLouis, there are pictures provided to figure out which ones you are holding. Only SNB cashier offices and agencies at some cantonal banks will do that.

There are, but not in Switzerland

You can change old notes of many countries in Eastern Europe and South East Asia, sometimes for even less than a 5% fee.

Um, although the old notes officially ceased to be legal tender in 2021, I used them in retail outlets with zero issue very recently (also had a stash of them). The cashier at the Allschwil Migros accepted my old 20CHF bills without even looking up.This was in April of this year.
If you try to change them into USD, EUR or other foreign currency at one of the booths in the airport, I`m pretty sure they'll get accepted.
https://www.snb.ch/en/iabout/cash

I exchanged some 8th series notes two days ago at a currency change shop in Geneva, I was given a 1:1 exchange to Euros with no fee other than that built into the above exchange rate. Seemed like a better deal than flying to Bern or Zurich.

I was told that you could only exchange for "new" franc notes at SNB or at a specific BCGE branch in Carouge during very limited hours. Obviously I could have then exchanged the Euros for francs but the inherent fee on the double exchange wouldn't have been great.

The money changers don't appear to have any problem exchanging the old notes for foreign currencies though. I do not believe any retail outlets still accept the old notes.

There are no fees for "exchanging" older, no longer valid banknotes banknotes into new ones at the SNB or Cantonal banks! As for avoiding a trip to Berne or Zurich (especially if you have no need for Euros), the BCGE branch you mention, it is not in Carouge but on 21, Rue de Carouge, right side of the Arve.

https://www.bcge.ch/fr/partenariats has the necessary info in French.