Demand
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
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’
Malaysian deputy unveils ‘ink-staining’ technology for ATMs
Muhammad bin Ibrahim says ATMs have been ‘frequent target’ for criminals in recent years; new technology will stain notes with indelible ink if machine is being robbed
Growth in banknote circulation drops in Namibia after ATM mandate
Annual report shows central bank mandated banks to re-calibrate their ATMs to better balance the dispense of banknotes to the market, lowering the rate of banknote issuance
Riksbank sees payments challenges ahead
Annual report notes growing interest in digital forms of payment is leading to declining income from seigniorage; new banknote series to enter circulation in 2015
Former ECB banknotes director describes 'arduous path' to Europa launch
Antti Heinonen details the challenges and occasional mishaps in delivering a ‘quantum leap’ in eurozone banknote designs, with the latest new note to be issued later this year
Coins and notes with same value to circulate in Angola
Angola’s central bank will issue two new coins in November, of 50 and 100 kwanzas, which will circulate with equal denomination banknotes
National Bank of Belgium to close half its remaining branches
Belgian central bank reveals plans to close its branches in Mons and Hasselt in 2016, which are predominantly involved in processing cash
Reserve Bank of India to trial ‘plastic banknotes’
Annual report details plans to run a ‘field trial’ of plastic banknotes by 2015, in addition to several other initiatives aimed at improving the central bank’s cash management
Bulgarian National Bank selling 64 tonnes of scrap coins
Bulgarian central bank set to sell 64 tonnes of defunct old coins to the highest bidder, who will melt them down for scrap
Central Bank of Oman's Hamood Sangour Al Zadjali on the dollar, financial stability and Islamic finance
The Central Bank of Oman remains committed to the dollar as it moves to improve governance, liquidity management and Islamic finance in the sultanate, its executive president tells Chris Jeffery
Dutch study uses neuroscience to dissect consumers’ payment choices
The Netherlands Bank uses an MRI scanner to examine what is going on in consumers’ minds as they choose whether to pay by cash or card
Kenyan coin shortage is a public misperception, says central bank
Central Bank of Kenya says “perceived shortage” can be eradicated if members of the public raid their piggy banks
Kenyan coin shortage denied by central bank
Central Bank of Kenya insists there are sufficient coins in circulation; urges public to accept coins ‘without reservation’
Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina reports drop in counterfeits
Figures show 76% drop in counterfeits recovered in Bosnia and Herzegovina; new banknotes with improved security features hailed for large reduction in fake currency seized compared to last year
Bank Indonesia prepares payment systems for Eid
Indonesian central bank mounts campaign to get enough cash into the system prior to Eid celebrations; confident payment demands will be met
Democratic Republic of Congo fights dollarisation
Central Bank of the Democratic Republic of Congo releases new high-denomination banknotes; move signifies efforts to limit dollarisation in the country but also poses inflation risk
Denmark releases annual report and appoints new directors
National Bank of Denmark annual report covers decision to relocate Royal Danish Mint and reveals profit fell last year; Jørgen Strandgaard and Kjeld Johannesen chosen as new directors
Q&A: Central Bank of Colombia governor José Darío Uribe
The governor of the Central Bank of Colombia talks to Christopher Jeffery about the challenges the bank faced during the global financial crisis and its objectives for the future in a changing regulatory environment
Estonian central bank finds public retaining kroons as memento
Bank of Estonia study finds 81% of respondents are holding on to some kroon cash; not using it for savings shows confidence in the euro, says head of cash and security department
Cash holding on the rise
Notes and coins in circulation were on average 1.1% higher than December, new data from the Bank of England show.
Optimising cash supply
Central banks need to take a business minded approach to their cash-supply function, argues Brian Lang
Who signs the banknotes?
Most banknotes bear signatures, but who are the signatories? Åke Lönnberg explains
Euro makes rapid progress in Cyprus and Malta
Euro banknotes already account for 50% of the total in circulation in both Malta and Cyprus, the two Mediterranean islands that adopted the single currency on Tuesday.