Cash
Innovative print techniques are key for new Georgian banknotes
National Bank of Georgia launches two denominations from first new series for 20 years; dedicated website accompanies the launch
DNB director targets better measurement of inclusion
Frank Elderson emphasises the benefits of financial inclusion and says central bank will put forward proposals for financial inclusion index later this week
BoE says cash unlikely to ‘die out’
An article in the Bank of England's quarterly bulletin illustrates the continuing use of cash in the UK, despite the introduction of new payment technologies over the last decade
Maltese not ‘aggressive’ in restructuring assets in 2014
Financial Stability Report indicates core domestic banks re-balanced assets to boost returns but were not aggressive in their approach
US Treasury: woman will appear on new $10 banknote
More than a century after Martha Washington was featured on a $1 note, Treasury secretary Jack Lew announces he will pick another woman to feature on the $10 note
Ireland to phase out one- and two-cent coins
Central bank will lead project that will see cash payments rounded to discourage use of low-value coins; decision follows successful trial in 2013
Zimbabwe pulls local currency from circulation
Locals will be able to exchange their Zimbabwean dollars for US dollars until September 30; any amount up to Z$175 quadrillion in their bank accounts will be swapped for a flat $5
ECCB sees sense in scrapping cents
Eastern Caribbean Central Bank insists ‘everyone will benefit from the withdrawal’ of one and two cent coins from July, as they are expensive to produce and carry very little purchasing power
Nigerian central bankers accused of banknote ‘mega scam’
Six accused of taking more than $25 million worth of old banknotes that were meant to be destroyed; Economic and Financial Crime Commission says they will ‘face the wrath of the law’
ECB’s Cœuré says higher inflation target not solution to zero lower bound
Benoît Cœuré says raising the inflation target or abolishing the currency is not the right way to make monetary policy more effective; structural reforms a better use of political capital
Bank of Spain remodels in light of SSM
Executive commission approves a new structure for bank resolution and regulation, as well as changes to the central bank’s cash management functions
Counterfeiting rate ‘extremely low’ for Canadian polymer notes
Bank of Canada’s polymer series now comprises 75% of the banknotes in circulation, and is subject to a counterfeiting rate of just 0.56 parts per million
Central Bank of Nigeria defends reintroduction of fees on ATM withdrawals
Bank says reintroduction of fee will hinder abuse of expensive ATMs and promote its cash-less policy; fee was abolished in 2012 to encourage use of ATMs
Better budgeting tools could encourage low earners to switch from cash to card
Researchers find that low earners prefer to use cash over the debit card because they find it more effective as a monitoring and budgeting tool
Economists worldwide find cash still used ‘extensively’
Economists from Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States compare survey data on payments; find cash ‘has not disappeared’
Dutch paper finds Germans ‘substantially more cash oriented’ than other nationalities
Researchers consider why cash is still ‘heavily used’ for low-value payments in Europe; attributes German consumers' continued use of cash to ‘precautionary’ reasons
Gunmen steal $53m from Central Bank of Libya
Armed men overpower guards and steal millions of dollars from cash truck en route to central bank in Sirte
US households stick with favourite payment methods
According to a recent study, households use ‘one or at most two' of cash, cheque and card when paying the bills
UK's Royal Mint brings back golden guinea to mark 350th anniversary
New £2 coin designed in the style of the now disused guinea, featuring the crest of King George III; coin will enter circulation later this year