Currency
Malawi central bank bolsters anti-counterfeiting with MoU
Governor says new framework will strengthen policy co-ordination between institutions
Uzbekistan launches new banknote as inflation erodes value
New 50,000 som note is five times the value of the next largest banknote; security features include raised text, colour-changing foils and windows
BoE’s ‘difficult decision’ to stick with animal fat substrate
UK central bank rejects the palm oil alternative, despite successful trials; the decision is based on cost and sustainability concerns
Belgium’s mint to close in 2018
Coin production will be outsourced to save money, given decline in production, losing no jobs in the process, Mint official says
UK’s Royal Mint to supply 150 million Argentinian peso blanks
The UK’s Royal Mint will ship coins, along with equipment, to Argentinian mint, where engineers will help with the final design stamping
Zimbabwe back to printing bond notes
Reserve bank to release an extra $300 million into the system from August to deal with forex demand; governor says bolstering regulation should help “plug” forex leakages
New coins to launch in Philippines in 2017, says deputy governor
Series will integrate new security features akin to those used in banknotes, but 10 cent will not be featured
Bank of England unveils Jane Austen £10
New banknote will be the first to include tactile features for the visually impaired; Carney says timeline for the new £20 remains on track despite polymer controversy
Madagascar launches high-denomination banknote
New banknote series will use new security features on a number of substrates, one of which has been created by Banque de France
Armenia dropping high-denomination note in new hybrid series
The central bank says the note worth $200 will not be included in the new series; submissions for design proposals for the new series are now being accepted
Zimbabwe’s bond notes are ‘exacerbating’ economic fragility, IMF says
Fund urges Zim authorities to restore credibility to currency regime as financial crisis shows no sign of abating
It is too early to disregard cash – Croatia’s Vujčić
European governors wary of what the future of fintech will hold for both digital and hard cash
Syria’s new high-denomination banknote to feature President Assad
President to adorn new 2,000 Syrian pound banknote, worth around $4; central bank governor says plan for new note has been in pipeline for years
BoE economist sees monetary policy benefits to demonetisation
Removal of high-denomination notes could help central bankers maintain policies of low inflation and interest rates near the zero lower bound
New US dollar bills will not be polymer – Fed official
US plans to launch a new family of banknotes that will have more intaglio printing; Fed’s Lambert sees a bright future for cash
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
Trinidad and Tobago scraps 1 cent coin
New coin composition and withdrawal of small denomination expected to save millions; new rounding system will see cash payments made easier
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
BoJ’s Nakaso says digital currencies would allow ‘wider access’ to payments
Replacing banknotes with digital currencies would be “extreme”, deputy governor says, but would allow “wider access” to central bank payment infrastructure