Banknotes
RBI forms task force as cash crisis continues
Authorities find ATMs must be recalibrated to accept new notes, hampering efforts to respond to cash shortages
Reserve Bank of Malawi issues new highest denomination banknote
Central bank issues new denomination as inflation and depreciation continue; 2,000 kwacha note will enter circulation next month
India scraps two banknotes overnight
The joint initiative by the central bank and government will replace two highest denominations with a new Rs500 and Rs2000, entering circulation tomorrow after an unscheduled bank holiday
RBS issues first polymer banknotes
Polymer note printed on De La Rue ‘Safeguard’ substrate is first in RBS's new series; Scottish novelist and poet Nan Shepherd features on the front of the note
Bahamas launches new banknote series with innovative security thread
Central Bank of Bahamas launches “Crisp Evolution” series, the first “circulation banknote” to feature new colour-changing security thread; $10 note to enter circulation immediately
Crane invests $100 million in new banknote plant
New banknote facility in Malta to add to existing operations in Sweden and the US, employing 200 people
Indonesia to launch new banknote and coin series with a ‘bang’
New banknote and coin series featuring Indonesian “national heroes” to launch later this year; smallest coin will not feature in new series
Zimbabwe to print $75 million in ‘bond notes’ in 2016
Reserve bank to issue US dollar-“equivalent” notes despite criticism from the general public; incentive facility to be backed by Afrimexbank
New facility opens to print £10 notes, as £5 enters circulation
Substrate for UK’s new £5 banknote, launched today, was produced in Australia because new facility was not yet ready; Innovia says new plant will make use of the latest technology
BoE exhibition to juxtapose new fiver with historical banknotes
BoE to open currency gallery a week before the launch of the new £5 note; museum to feature banknotes from eras throughout history
RBA launches first banknote with edge-to-edge window
Twelve-year project cost the bank $37 million; new series to feature pioneering security elements and is the first to trial tactile features for the visually impaired
Gibraltar to launch polymer £100 note
New note will be the first polymer banknote for Gibraltar; De La Rue to use ‘Safeguard’ substrate for new banknote, which will be issued “soon”
De La Rue boosts Africa presence with Kenya deal
Kenyan factory to be turned into production “centre for excellence”; printer hopes new equipment installed at site will increase banknote production by 50%
National Bank of Denmark sells stake in cash-handler BKS
Central bank official says organisation succeeded in ending spate of violent robberies, so there is no longer a need for the National Bank to be involved
Indian train robbery sees nearly $1m in soiled banknotes snatched
Soiled banknotes destined for the RBI stolen from train on the way back from Salem; police investigating incident
Sarb mulling changes to cash distribution process
South African Reserve Bank review finds ‘inefficiencies’ in current framework; changes could include alterations to the bank’s ‘branch footprint’ and supply chain
Liberia in line for new largest banknote
Liberia to have first new banknote series in 16 years, including a L$500 for the first time; all notes to be printed on a “higher-quality substrate”
331,000 counterfeit notes withdrawn in H1 2016 – ECB
Figures show 80% of all the counterfeits were €20 and €50 notes; number of total counterfeits withdrawn in first half of 2016 lower year on year
Research explores lifting fingerprints from polymer notes
Team of scientists trial technique to ‘lift’ fingerprint from polymer surface; stress suitability of elemental copper for use in forensic examinations
Russian public to vote on new banknote designs
The 200 and 2,000 ruble notes will bear symbols of Russian cities voted on by public; winning designs announced in October 2016, notes to enter circulation in 2017
Bank of England banknote first in the world to feature new foil technology
BoE launches new fiver with ‘Kinegram Colors’ technology taking centre stage; new note to enter circulation in September
Philippines central bank reveals counterfeiting arrests
Central bank says it was behind four successful anti-counterfeiting operations in Q1; has the legal authority to make arrests and seize property
Norges Bank reveals methods used to monitor banknote quality
Central bank to conduct ‘fitness surveys’ twice annually, analysing a host of variables to define which banknotes are suitable for circulation
Denmark outsources coin minting to Finland
Mint of Finland wins tender to produce krone coins, as National Bank of Denmark seeks to cut costs by closing down its coin and banknote operations