Currency denominated in centimes and francs (called frank in Dutch) was first introduced in 1887 for use in the Congo Free State (1885–1908).

After the Free State's annexation by Belgium, the currency continued in the Belgian Congo.

A currency based on the gold standard was created for the Congo Free State in 1887.

Banknotes were issued from 1896 in the name of the General Treasury of the Congo Free State (Trésoire générale de l'État indépendant du Congo) payable to the bearer, until the annexation of the Free State in 1908.

[2] It did exist, however, as the sole de facto currency in the Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi.

[5] A central bank was created in 1951 entitled the Central Bank of the Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi (Banque Centrale du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi, BCCBRU) which subsequently issued both coins and banknotes and dealt with foreign exchange controls and was partially supported by the National Bank of Belgium.

The coinage of Belgian Congo ceased in 1929, only to be resumed in 1936 and 1937 for the issue of nickel-bronze 5 franc coins.

In February 2025, the only negotiable instrument in circulation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo was banknotes of 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 francs.

In 2010, the Central Bank of the Congo issued 20 million 500 franc banknotes to commemorate the country's 50th anniversary of independence from Belgium.

[8] On July 2, 2012, the Central Bank of the Congo issued new banknotes in denominations of 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 francs.