The Bank of Guyana has launched a new $2,000 banknote to mark the 55th anniversary of Guyana’s independence from the UK, in 1966. The release, which was delayed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, is the first Guyanese banknote to use polymer substrate.

One the sessions at the Banknote & Currency Conference was ‘Perception Studies: Producing Actionable Information to Support Data-Driven Decision Making’, in the context of: what are the most effective features on a banknote? What do people use to authenticate them? What captures their attention and how do we know?

Last December Brinks disclosed its three year strategic plan and 2024 financial targets, with a major focus on new digital cash payment solutions. According to CEO Doug Pertz, ‘Brink’s is evolving from a route-based logistics company with growing organic revenue and expanding margins into a key player in the broader payments ecosystem - with a focus on digital cash payment solutions.'

The first day of the Banknote & Currency Conference, 22 February, saw the presentation of the latest International Association of Currency Affairs (IACA) Excellence in Currency Awards. Out of the 39 nominations, a shortlist of 15 was drawn up by the IACA Awards Committee for each of the four categories covered by the awards. These were then put to a ballot of IACA members.

Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions is holding a series of one-day events, which will take place from 26-29 April and 8-12 May at its premises in Lausanne, Switzerland. Live presentations will be organised across sustainability, modularity and digitalisation.

The National Bank of Kazakhstan is renowned for its early adoption of high-tech security and innovative design, and has established itself as a testing ground for new features, with these trialled on commemorative and house notes before being adopted on circulating notes.

According to CCL Secure, the SPARTAN banknote has been engineered specifically for the note/coin boundary and is the result of researchers creating not only a brand new kind of polymer but also reimagining the banknote production process.

February is when several of the leading listed companies in cash report their annual results for the previous year. In 2019, all bar one reported strong results and optimistic outlooks. Needless to say, this was before COVID struck, and the optimism was quickly overturned in 2020 as the pandemic took its toll.

The Banknote & Currency Conference was the first major industry event to take place in person since the start of the pandemic. The four day event, followed by the one-day inaugural Digital Currency Conference, welcomed more than 450 delegates from 180 organisations and 53 countries.

All too often notifications arrive about a new study into an aspect of the cash industry, the cash cycle or payments. The trouble is that if it is written by an industry-insider, the competitive value is so high that the document has to talk in bland generalisations.

Canadian security services provider GardaWorld, the world’s largest privately owned provider of security, cash and risk management service, has announced the launch of Sesami, a new cash ecosystem performance and technology company that will operate independently of its parent.

War is brutal and yet here we are with war in Europe. Unbelievable. Yet again though, it underlines the need for cash. The run up to the war saw cyber-attacks on the Ukrainian ATM network and now the invasion has started the internet is not guaranteed, let alone power. Once again, cash is king.

Former Prime Minister of Norway and NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg has been appointed for a six-year term as Governor of Norges Bank, replacing Øystein Olsen who is retiring. He won’t take up the position until later in the year, when his term at NATO expires. Deputy Governor Ida Wolden Bache will act as Interim Governor in the meantime.

The Reserve Bank of Malawi has issued a new high denomination 5,000 kwacha banknote, to relieve pressure on the 2,000 kwacha, which accounts for 80% of currency in circulation. An upgraded version of the 2,000 will also be issued shortly.

As part of its modernisation programme, Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) has commissioned new banknote printing lines at both of its printworks - Currency Note Press, Nashik and Bank Note Press, Dewas.

There are many functional and secure features available that meet the needs of the various cash cycles, banknote issuing authorities and end users. One such feature is the taggant, which overcomes the challenges of the degradation of visible security features in that it continues to perform even when the note is subject to extensive wear and tear.

When a central bank is designing a new series or upgrading the security of the existing designs how can it be certain that the security features selected will be resilient against counterfeiting? How do they choose from the many features and technologies on offer?

Banknote durability is an ongoing topic of interest for central banks. More durable banknotes have a reduced impact on the environment and save the central bank money because they need replacing less often.

As part of our series of articles around the world to assess the growing trend to digital payments and what these countries are doing to ensure ongoing access to cash in a less-cash world, this month it’s the turn of New Zealand.

Flights have been booked, hotel reservations have been made and final preparations are being made so that, after two years apart, Currency Research can bring the majority of the industry back together for some long-overdue discussions, professional networking, and a lively exchange of information and views.