Banknotes
Fewer counterfeit banknotes withdrawn in Portugal in 2015
Statistics released by Bank of Portugal reveal a drop in the number of counterfeits withdrawn from circulation last year; the €20 remains the most frequently faked denomination
Argentina to issue three new banknote denominations
Top-value 100-peso note to be eclipsed by new currency; 200- and 500-peso notes will launch in first half of 2016, with 1000 peso note following in 2017
Central Bank of Bolivia issues counterfeit warning ahead of festival
Any reproduction of the bolivar must be either double or half the size to avoid confusion with legal tender under counterfeiting rules, the bank says, ahead of Alasita in La Paz
ECB welcomes draft Portuguese law on banknote production
Proposals would remove requirement that Bank of Portugal must own 51% of legal entity responsible for banknote production; could pave way for closer co-operation with other NCBs
Fiji laments 'torn and burnt' polymer banknotes
Central bank governor urges Fijians to stop ironing polymer notes which can 'cause them to melt and shrink'
SNB reveals launch date for delayed banknote series
Roll-out of ninth banknote series to begin next year; new notes believed to include unique security features but central bank is being tight-lipped in the run up to the launch
Riksbank launches app as drive to publicise new notes and coins accelerates
Central bank’s first smartphone app helps public identify counterfeit banknotes and features voice-over by Stefan Ingves; part of communications push ahead of new banknote and coin series
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
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’
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
New Australian banknotes to feature 'embossed bumps'
RBA to become second central bank to emboss polymer banknotes with 'bumps', making it easier to feel the difference between denominations
British minister brands Argentina’s new Falklands banknote a ‘stunt’
The Central Bank of Argentina has issued a new 50 peso banknote featuring the Falkland Islands, which sparked criticism, with a British minister branding it a ‘stunt’
Banknote and currency services provider of the year: Innovia Security
A consistent, collaborative approach in a wide range of countries, including Canada and the UK, has enabled the polymer pioneer to stay ahead of its peers on banknote service provision
Uzbek central bank launches mobile app to meet ‘growing needs’ of online audience
Users can view specimens of banknotes and coins and check the latest exchange rates; central bank expects it to be ‘popular’ among 3,000 people who visit website each day
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
A new wave for polymer banknotes
Does the Bank of England’s move to introduce substrate banknotes represent a ‘tipping point’ for polymer currency? By Tristan Carlyle.
Iceland prepares to phase out smallest banknote
Central Bank of Iceland hints at replacing the 500 krónur banknote with a coin, and scrapping the three lowest value coins altogether; introduced new 10,000 krónur note last year
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
BoE bows to persuasion as Austen proves banknotes not just a man’s field
English author will replace Charles Darwin on UK £10 note in 2017; campaign against central bank also yields review into the criteria used for character selection
Jane Austen ‘quietly waiting in wings’ to feature on UK banknote
Bank of England governor Mervyn King says Jane Austen is a likely candidate to feature on next £10 note; fails to appease concerns over all-male banknote roster
Bank of England faces legal challenge over all-male banknote roster
Central bank stands accused of failing in its duties under the Equality Act, after choosing to replace the only woman on a British banknote with Winston Churchill
Angola launches new notes and coins, cuts base rate
Notes incorporating new security features to be phased in during the first half of 2013; base rate cut to 10% as inflation hits ‘record low' of 9% per annum
Albania opens new currency centre
Bank of Albania has opened a new currency issue centre and mint as part of a wide-ranging property overhaul at the central bank
Zambia unveils new currency features
The Bank of Zambia reveals images and security features of new, rebased, currency; now comprises six banknotes and four coins