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Currency Benchmarks 2026 report – cash in a digital world
In the two years since the last currency benchmark, the share of polymer banknotes has continued to increase, reaching 31.8% this year, up from 23.3% in 2024 and nearly double the level in 2023. This pattern is also reflected in changing use of security features on banknotes and may be a factor in increased recycling. Indeed, another trend is towards greater environmental awareness by cash departments. All of the sustainability actions listed in the benchmark have registered increases since 2024.
Currency Benchmarks 2026 – model banks analysis
Data breakdowns reveal patterns in currency issuance, security features and staffing
Working group minutes: Cautious exit from dollars
Central banks are contemplating gold, emerging market assets and equities to diversify
Peer comparison launches
Watch the demo of Central Banking’s new peer comparison tool, part of the Benchmarking Service
The Fed shares trading scandals, five years on
Could revised rules serve as template for other central banks?
Peer comparison
For the first time, compare your bank’s own benchmarking results against peer institutions, giving you a clear view of where you align, differ and lead.
Model banks
Currency Benchmarks 2026 – model banks analysis
Reserve Benchmarks 2026 – model banks analysis
Economics Benchmarks 2026 – model banks analysis
Supervision Benchmarks 2026 – model banks analysis
Payments Benchmarks 2026 – model banks analysis
Strategic Planning Benchmarks 2026 – model banks analysis
Governance Benchmarks 2026 – model banks analysis
Fintech Benchmarks 2026 – model banks analysis
Risk Management Benchmarks 2026 – model banks analysis
Communications Benchmarks 2025 – model banks analysis
Monetary Policy Benchmarks 2025 – model banks analysis
Reserve Benchmarks 2025 – model banks analysis
Charts
Digital payments impact
Cash is falling in popularity as a means of payment at the point of sale in many jurisdictions. Advanced economy jurisdictions tend to report a bigger impact from digital payments, which is reflected in lower shares of cash in transactions. But the year-on-year benchmarking data shows a clear trend everywhere towards greater use of digital payments, which will have a knock-on effect on cash infrastructure.
Reports
Currency Benchmarks 2026 report – cash in a digital world
Reserve Benchmarks 2026 report – investing in uncertain times
Economics Benchmarks 2026 report – advanced analytics
Supervision Benchmarks 2026 report – AI and data
Payments Benchmarks 2026 report – upgrades and alignment
Strategic Planning Benchmarks 2026 report – digital strategy
Governance Benchmarks 2026 – legal matters
Fintech Benchmarks 2026 report – the digital asset race
Risk Management Benchmarks 2026 report – tracking op risk
Cross-Benchmarks Staffing Report 2025: tackling shortages
Communications Benchmarks 2025 report – getting social
Cross-Benchmarks AI Report 2025: a question of creative destruction
Benchmarks
Communications
Currency
Economics
Financial Stability
Fintech
Governance
Monetary Policy
Payments
Reserves
Risk Management
Strategic Planning
Supervision
Working group minutes: Cash infrastructure under pressure
Both high and low volumes of cash in circulation are causing problems for central banks
Currency Benchmarks 2026 – executive summary
Benchmarks shed light on cash policies, changing substrate choices and staffing issues
Central banks keep security-sensitive cash tasks in house
Most outsource capital-intensive work, with printing the most common
Banknote environmental impact awareness grows
Share of currency departments with a climate strategy increases to 50%