Currency
Covid-19 likely to have major effect on UK cash usage – BoE
Risk of Covid transmission via banknotes diminishes significantly over time, BoE study finds
German contactless payments rose due to Covid-19
Bundesbank board member says pandemic changed consumers’ use of debit card system
Nordic central banks sign currency swap agreement
Norwegian, Swedish and Danish central banks conclude bilateral swap deals
Cash usage in Norway falls to 4%
Deputy governor says CBDC research is ongoing; any future system would be controlled by central bank
Currency Benchmarks 2020 report – the data behind the cash cycle
Perspectives on staffing, circulation, forecasting, fraud, substrate choice, outsourcing and climate risk
Singapore’s central bank discontinues issuance of $1,000 banknote
Highest denomination will remain legal tender, but new issuance will cease at the end of 2020
Asia issues the most banknotes by volume and value
Asian central banks issue 62.3 banknotes worth $1,852 per person
BoE extends contract with De La Rue
UK printer will help central bank continue to develop printing site as world leader
New polymer banknotes are greener and cheaper – T&T governor
Central bank plans to review coin denomination usage later this year, Alvin Hilaire says
Most central banks not measuring banknote carbon footprint
Very few institutions have cash climate strategy but over 50% are recycling their unfit banknotes
Africa’s sparse ATM infrastructure contrasts with Asian density
Central banks reported huge variation in number of ATMs
G+D and CPS are ‘most approved’ for banknote sorting
Just over half of survey sample endorses Munich-based manufacturer
Websites are top currency communication tool
More than two thirds of currency managers use social media
Kenya’s central bank opens new currency centre
New facility will improve currency circulation within the region, president Kenyatta says
Printing is the most outsourced area of the cash cycle
Just over 60% of survey respondents contract out currency printing
Watermarks and intaglio printing remain top security features
Increasing the number of security features does not necessarily reduce counterfeiting
Currency managers eschew big data and long-term forecasts
Most popular banknote forecast period is one to three years
Only 25% of central banks operate own printworks
Larger central banks from high income countries are more likely to print notes in-house
Central banks show wide variation in cash department staffing
Different staffing levels driven in part by which institutions run their own printworks
RBNZ looks to bolster capabilities as ‘steward’ of the cash system
Central bank launches review of cash system and increases engagement with financial industry
Cash volumes rise in most jurisdictions
Annual growth in banknotes in circulation was 6.2%; or 5.2% on a weighted basis
China starts public trials of experimental CBDC
PBoC and Shenzhen local government issue digital yuan to test retail payments