Banknotes
Bolivia to get new largest denomination banknote
New 500 boliviano note will be part of first new series in almost 30 years; central bank estimates the project will cost around $45 million
Norges Bank notes to feature innovative optical thread
Choice of security features swayed Norges Bank away from polymer; new series of notes to feature Crane security thread
ECB scraps production of €500 note citing concern over illicit activities
The European Central Bank will stop producing the €500 note over concerns it facilitates criminal activities; move does not aim to increase the effectiveness of monetary policy, spokesman says
JMW Turner to appear on new £20 banknote
Painter chosen from 590 British visual artists to adorn new polymer £20 note, after lengthy selection process; note scheduled to enter circulation by 2020
New Zealand launches remaining banknotes in new series
Final three denominations will circulate from May 16; central bank creates interactive website allowing users to manipulate new notes and get acquainted with security and design features
Swiss National Bank bolsters security features of first banknote in new series
The new series printed on three-layered substrate boasts a range of new security features; Sfr50 enters circulation on April 12
Central Banking Awards 2016: Banknote and currency services provider of the year
Ahead of the third annual Central Banking awards evening, Central Banking Journal met with Peter Muehlfelder, head of business area security at Kurz, to discuss the areas of business that have contributed to their award success and their company's…
Canadian public put forward women for spot on new banknote
Bank of Canada to launch new polymer banknote in 2018 featuring an “iconic” Canadian woman; Nellie McClung announced as first nomination
RBA’s Richards sees possibility for digital Australian dollar
New card regulation to be ready by May, says Richards; digital currency a possibility in the ‘more distant future’, but RBA not ‘actively considering’ it
Tighter quality standards on banknotes not needed, DNB paper suggests
The Netherlands Bank maintains the European minimum standard for sorting euro banknotes, as study sees no reason to impose stricter requirements
Sarb seeks release of banknotes from detained plane
The South African Reserve Bank confirms an aircraft carrying a consignment of banknotes has been detained in Zimbabwe, after the discovery of a dead body
ECB ‘actively considering’ whether to scrap €500 note, Cœuré says
Executive board member says he finds arguments in favour of keeping highest denomination note ‘less and less convincing’, as evidence mounts of its role in corruption and crime
Innovative print techniques are key for new Georgian banknotes
National Bank of Georgia launches two denominations from first new series for 20 years; dedicated website accompanies the launch
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
Banknote and currency services provider of the year: Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co
The foil provider has developed cutting edge security features for some of the world's largest central banks in a bid to tackle ever more sophisticated counterfeiting
Domestic euro users bear highest shoe leather costs, Bank of Italy paper finds
Euros circulate widely outside the eurozone, transferring some costs to foreigners – but the effect is small relative to the popularity of the euro as a global currency
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
Improving banknote efficiency in India
The RBI manages nearly 80 billion banknotes in circulation – a number set to grow by more than 5% per annum. Vijay Shekhawat explains how the central bank is optimising its banknotes business
More polymer banknotes in new Nicaraguan series
Nicaragua to use polymer substrate on two additional denominations in new series launched later this month; revamp costing over $17 million
Namibia removes security feature from two banknotes
Central Bank of Namibia removes OVI diamond from N$10 and N$20 notes; hopes to reduce costs while preserving security
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'
Colombia doubles value of largest banknote
Colombian central bank will issue new 100,000 note for the first time alongside five redesigned denominations in 2016
BoE says cash unlikely to ‘die out’
An article in the Bank of England's quarterly bulletin illustrates the continuing use of cash in the UK, despite the introduction of new payment technologies over the last decade