Banknotes
Cash industry should tweak models in new environment, says BoE’s Cleland
Chief cashier says players should be prepared to “flex” models to adapt to environment where cash reliance is less significant; technology is not a threat, it’s an opportunity, says Cleland
Bahamian banknotes will feature three different substrates
The Caribbean nation is set to issue the highest denominations of its new series on a paper/polymer hybrid used by the Swiss National Bank; the new substrate offers a wider range of features
Norges Bank hooks viewers with fishy banknote video
“The cod is coming” music video proves a hit, helping to advertise the central bank’s new banknote series
Zim’s Mangudya slams media amid reports of deepening crisis
Zimbabwe governor says "false" social media reports are direct attempt to discredit government and central bank efforts
Physical currency is still necessary and relevant, says BNM deputy
Deputy governor of Bank Negara Malaysia says cash is a key branding tool of central banks; BNM is in the process of building a new modern mint
SNB launches next new banknote alongside updated app
New 20-franc note incorporates the theme of light not only in design but also in identification of security features; Kurz foil element once again integrated
UK’s Royal Mint challenges coin-note boundary
Director for circulating coin claims new feature will allow the new £1 coin to challenge low-denomination banknotes in terms of security
RBA opens new ‘highly secure’ banknote vault
Australian central bank makes first investment in banknote storage and distribution in over a decade; Lowe says public have come to “rely” on “secure and high-quality” banknotes
ECB set for €50 note launch
The European Central Bank is to launch the fourth banknote in the new Europa series on April 4; the new note will retain design elements from previous series, but will feature revamped security features
BoE considers palm oil as tallow alternative for polymer notes
Bank of England issues polymer consultation after tallow controversy; palm oil will add £5 million to printing costs if adopted
RBI research: demonetisation hit growth but helped inclusion
Authors find scrapping high-value notes impacted Indian growth and inflation but pushed many people to open bank accounts and improved policy transmission
Somalian central bank to print first notes since 1991
New 1,000 shilling looks set to enter circulation in 2017 with extensive assistance being provided by the IMF; central bank has struggled to operate amid civil war
Ghana issues banknote with QR code
New ¢5 note with 2D barcode to help educate the public on the numerous security features; bank to celebrate sixtieth birthday in August
Central Bank of Uzbekistan issues new highest-denomination banknote
New 10,000 som denomination to feature similar security features to notes already in circulation; inflation has eroded value of existing notes
Cash is here to stay – SNB’s Zurbrügg
SNB official says reports of cash’s “death” are “exaggerated”; central bank has no plans to stop printing banknotes as its popularity remains
Delayed banknotes arrive in Venezuela
Thirty billion bolivars of notes finally shipped from Sweden, says central bank director; further denominations expected by the end of the month
Seychelles to demonetise old 100- and 500-rupee notes
Improved security features need to be “put to best use”, says the central bank; the general public have until June 29 to spend or exchange the old banknotes
New Australian $10 to feature works of native authors
RBA launches second banknote in new series, celebrating native authors; new note will feature similar security elements to new A$5 launched last year
BoE says launch of £10 to go ahead, despite tallow traces
UK central bank will continue to print the £10 on the same substrate as the controversial fiver; options may be reconsidered for the £20
Consultancy and advisory services provider of the year (bespoke): Innovia Security
Polymer bank note provider also offers a suite of advisory services from design through to recycling to prepare central banks for the transition to ‘plastic’ bank notes, as highlighted in Nicaragua
Banknote and currency services provider of the year: Crane Currency
Leading micro-optics provider continues to deliver a full range of services from design to print to a large number of central banks around the world to ensure integrity of cash
Payments and market infrastructure provider of the year: VocaLink
The UK payments provider has built on domestic success to support real-time payments in Thailand and the US
National Bank of Poland to release new highest value banknote
500-zloty note will enter circulation on February 10 and be the last of the new series, which was first announced in 2014
ECB reports 20.7% drop in number of counterfeits
Number of counterfeits ticked up in the second half of 2016, but annual figures are down; €50 note still dominates in terms of counterfeit volume, with new note to be released in April