Latest News

Kerre Corbin

29 March 2021

4 min read

The Risks Around Generic Security Features

One increasingly common counterfeit technique is harvesting – the act of taking a security feature from a lower value object and incorporating it into a counterfeit banknote of higher value. There are several ways to minimise harvesting, including making each security feature bespoke.

Banknotes Counterfeiting Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

2 min read

Koenig & Bauer Exceeds Forecast, but Pandemic Takes Toll

Revenue for 2020 of €1.03 billion exceeded Koenig & Bauer’s guidance of €900-950 million, but was €217.2 million (17 .4%) lower than that achieved in 2019, according to its recently announced results.

Companies COVID-19

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

2 min read

Goznak Moves into Digital Payments

Russian banknote printer and papermaker Goznak is the latest in a series of currency suppliers to move into digital payments, having signed an agreement to acquire a stake of 50% plus one share in fintech company Preprocessing Settlement Center JSC (JSC PRT), which operates under the Uniteller trademark.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

5 min read

News in Brief

Despite Sweden being in the vanguard of the cashless movement, its central bank – Sveriges Riksbank – is opening new offices to handle notes and coins.

Central Banks Counterfeiting News

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

3 min read

Game Changers Smooth Banknote Production

Ergonomics and automation are well-known terms these days. But where does the banknote industry stand in these areas? Do printworks have to address both areas, which benefit employees and companies alike?

Technology

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

5 min read

COVID-19 Recovery Dominates Markets

This is now the fifth Industry Watch where COVID-19 has been the main influence on company performance and market trends, and this situation is unlikely to change any time soon.

Companies COVID-19

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

4 min read

New £50 Note Celebrates Science and Diversity

The Bank of England has unveiled the design for the new £50 which, when it goes into circulation in June, will compete the transition to a new all-polymer series.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Clemens Berger

29 March 2021

9 min read

Banknote Security – Don't Take the Risk! Embedded Security Features are the Benchmark for the Overwhelming Majority of Banknotes

The technology platforms used for banknotes continues to rise ever higher, for all security levels – 1, 2 and 3. Challenging and beating the counterfeiter is central to the design, functionality and security of banknotes. And we note that with a well-defined security feature matrix to raise the bar, there can be success.

Banknotes Counterfeiting Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

2 min read

Prosegur Takes Over Services from Cash Subsidiary

Prosegur Compañia de Seguridad (Prosegur) and its listed subsidiary Prosegur Cash have reached an agreement for the acquisition, by the former, of most of the process outsourcing and value-added services business developed by Prosegur AVOS, which was founded and is owned by the latter.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

29 March 2021

2 min read

Cash & Payment News in March

Cash & Payment News™ this month follows two main themes, payments and cash in a pandemic, along with a range of CashTech and other stories.

CBDC

Astrid Mitchell

2 March 2021

1 min read

Libya Marks Anniversary with New Polymer Note

The Central Bank of Libya has issued a new 5 dinar note on De La Rue’s SAFEGUARD® polymer substrate, its launch coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the 17 February 2011 Revolution. It is the country’s second polymer note, the first – the 1 dinar – having been issued in 2019.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

2 March 2021

3 min read

In Other News…

The Central Bank of Iran has unveiled the designs of three new banknotes as part of the transition of Iran’s currency from the rial to the toman. Under the changes, four zeroes will be knocked off the rial and it will be renamed.

Banknotes Coins News

Astrid Mitchell

2 March 2021

4 min read

The Modern Omani Renaissance in Banknotes

ln celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Modern Omani Renaissance, the Central Bank of Oman (CBO) has launched a new series. Oman, officially the Sultanate of Oman, is located on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula at the mouth of the Arabian Gulf, sharing its borders with the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The first national currency was introduced in 1970, replacing the Gulf rupee. Its current name, the Omani rial, was adopted in 1972. Coins were introduced earlier, in 1941.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

2 March 2021

1 min read

BIN Global Central Bank Survey Results

Banknote Industry News (BIN) surveyed 36 central banks at the end of 2020 with a wide range of questions. Two thirds of those surveyed did not change their banknote handling practices in the pandemic, neither disinfecting nor quarantining notes. The 25% who have changed their practices, continue with them. Although a quarter said that trust and confidence in banknotes had been reduced by the pandemic, 69% said there was no change.

Central Banks Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

2 March 2021

4 min read

Seaweed – a Natural Solution to Keep Banknotes Clean

COVID-19 has impacted cash usage in a number of ways. Some were inevitable, such as a reduction in use due to the move to online shopping and lockdowns. But one was avoidable and has unfairly and negatively affected both the use and perception of cash, and that was that it carried, and was capable of transmitting, the coronavirus.

Banknotes Sustainability Technology

Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions

2 March 2021

3 min read

Solidarity in Times of Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic has had massive impact at a global scale. If mostly negative, it has also generated an incredible surge of solidarity. Governments, associations and individuals have all in their own way launched initiatives to help those most in need. Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions along with the banknote industry have played their part too.

COVID-19

Astrid Mitchell

2 March 2021

2 min read

New Home for SICPA Down Under

The reputation of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s Craigieburn site in Melbourne as the world’s most unique banknote precinct has been strengthened with the arrival of SICPA Australia, which is basing its headquarters there. Note Printing Australia (also located on the site) has a long-term supply agreement with SICPA, and the RBA is committed to the use of SICPA proprietary features such as SPARK Live™ on its banknotes for the foreseeable future.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

2 March 2021

2 min read

The View from China

As relayed to Currency News in this month’s On the Record, the Chairman of China Banknote Printing and Minting Corporation (CBPM), Mr Yang Lijie, is optimistic about the future of cash, proud of the achievements of his organisation in terms of quality, sustainability and CSR, and willing to make more friends and more partners with the industry around the world.

Central Banks

Astrid Mitchell

2 March 2021

2 min read

Security Threads for Banknotes

A new special report, ‘Security Threads for Banknotes’, is about to be released. Published by Currency Publications, it follows the successful and informative Special Report ‘Diffractive Features on Banknotes’. Published in a similar format, the 130-page report is available in both printed and digital form.

Studies, Reports Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

2 March 2021

3 min read

UK Cash Industry Joins Forces to Meet Climate Targets

In the last quarter of last year, the UK bank NatWest established three cross industry working groups to improve the environmental performance of the UK’s cash cycle. Involving 36 organisations, the working groups looked at energy, plastics and CO2 to establish best practice and to drive change.

Companies Sustainability