forint

The forint (symbol Ft, ISO 4217 code HUF) is the currency of Hungary. It is issued by the Magyar Nemzeti Bank (Hungarian National Bank). The forint was introduced on 1 August 1946 to replace the pengő after World War II and to stabilize the currency. The name forint is used in Hungarian to denote the currency and is represented internationally by the code HUF and the symbol Ft.

The forint is subdivided into 100 fillér; fillér coins were once used but, due to inflation, they were withdrawn from circulation in the late 20th century and are no longer used in daily transactions. Prices are typically quoted in whole forints.

Coins currently in circulation include 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 forint coins. Banknotes currently in circulation are 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000 and 20000 forint.

The Hungarian National Bank is the sole issuing authority and is responsible for monetary policy and currency issuance. The forint is a floating currency, with exchange rates determined on the foreign exchange market. Hungary is a member of the European Union but has not adopted the euro; the forint remains the national currency.