Latest News

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

5 min read

Markets Gain as Confidence Returns

This is now the sixth Industry Watch, covering 18 months, where COVID-19 has been the main factor influencing market values and trends, both directly and indirectly.

Companies COVID-19

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

3 min read

Bank of England Annual Report – Banknotes Increase, Counterfeits Fall

The week before the issue of the new £50, the Bank of England published its annual report for 2020/21, which showed an increase in notes in circulation of £10.3 billion (14%). It credited this increase to the launch of the new polymer £20 note in February 2020 and the pandemic. These figures are quite a contrast to the Reserve Bank of India’s annual report, also issued recently, which saw a 7.2% increase.

Central Banks Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

2 min read

People in the News

The Mexican President has nominated his finance minister and economist Arturo Herrera Gutiérrez as the next Governor of the Bank of Mexico, to replace the incumbent, Alejandro Díaz de León, whose mandate is not being renewed.

Central Banks Companies News

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

3 min read

A Busy Year for the RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has published its 2020/21 Annual Report which saw a small rise in demand for banknotes and the RBI continuing with its programme of developing how it does its business.

Central Banks Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

4 min read

When is a Counterfeit not a Counterfeit? We Need to Know!

Counterfeiting is a sensitive subject. Without counterfeiters most of us would not have a job, but central banks have a difficult line to walk. They need the public to check their banknotes, but equally they need the public to trust and have confidence in their currency.

Comment Counterfeiting

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

5 min read

News in Brief

The ATM Security Association (ASA) has launched a new worldwide Crisis and Crime Management Intelligence System (CCMIS).

Central Banks Companies News

Astrid Mitchell

28 June 2021

3 min read

Glory – a Mixed Picture Across Global Markets

Glory’s annual results, announced last month, showed a 3% drop in sales to ¥217 billion, and a 20% drop in operating income to ¥14 billion.

Companies COVID-19

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

5 min read

Qatar’s New Banknotes – Art, Progress and Technology Brought Together

The Qatar Central Bank formally launched its 5th Series of banknotes on Qatar National Day, 18 December 2020, replacing the 4th Series that was issued in 2003. The Qatar Central Bank wished to modernise the banknotes and to incorporate the latest security features. The new series, designed by De La Rue in close co-operation with the Qatar Central Bank, has achieved this whilst maintaining a thematic link to previous designs.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

2 min read

A New Star is Born

Louisenthal has added a new security thread to its portfolio based on its RollingStar® technology, which combines two security technologies – ColourShift for colour changes and micro-mirrors for dynamic effects arranged according to highly complex algorithms. For the new thread, RollingStar® i+, the two technologies have, through intensive research and in conjunction with magnetics for machine-read, been elevated to a new level.

Banknotes Substrates, Features

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

6 min read

Counterfeiters Turn their Attention to Polymer

It was only a matter of time! One of the claimed benefits of polymer is that it is more resistant to counterfeiting and hence more secure, and the figures bear that out.

Banknotes Counterfeiting

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

3 min read

A Year of Pivot for RCM, as Bullion Sales Boom, But Coins Decline

The Royal Canadian Mint (RCM) has announced its financial results for 2020. Overall, sales were boosted by 74% due to booming demand for gold bullion products. However, the increased revenue was matched by increased costs, so did not result in a corresponding increase in profit. Instead, profits were lower by 35% due to lower revenues from other parts of the business, among them circulating coins.

Coins COVID-19 Studies, Reports

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

3 min read

Smart Solutions for Banknote Destruction from CPS and Hunkeler

Whilst the focus on cash is generally concentrated on substrates and features, production and circulation, the end of life is also key as regards the secure, clean and efficient disposal of both waste and notes no longer fit for circulation.

Banknotes Companies Technology

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

2 min read

HUMANIA Celebrates 1st Banknote Design Submissions

In December 2020, the global cash community joined forces in an initiative called HUMANIA to support people who have been most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

2 min read

May’s edition of Cash & Payment News

This month we highlight a number of challenging areas for digital payments, rising card fees in the US and Germany, research that suggests people select banks based on branch proximity and that the pain of paying leads people to spend more and make unwise choices.

CBDC

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

3 min read

World ATM Day – Celebrating the World’s Original Fintech

As is widely recognised, the invention of the ATM has been one of the single most significant developments in the history of money – providing it with the core attributes of near-universal availability and convenience that continue to this day.

Events Technology

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

3 min read

Turnaround Plan Pays Off for De La Rue

De La Rue’s results for 2020-21 were not expected to be easy to understand or compare with the previous year(s) due to all the changes that took place, continued this last year and will continue, albeit to a much lesser extent this coming financial year. However, the main takeaway is that the company is alive and well and positive about its future.

Companies

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

5 min read

News in Brief

Swedish cash management service provider Loomis has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire certain assets and liabilities of SecurePost AG, a subsidiary of Die Schweizerische Post (Swiss Post Group).

Companies News Sustainability

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

2 min read

CBDC Conference Update

The Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) conference has now moved wholly online on 4-6 October 2021. Registration is now open.

Events

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

4 min read

Two Peas in a Pod: Cash and CBDCs

There is much talk and activity around Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) at the moment, particularly retail CBDCs. As one reads the papers and listens to the frequent webinars about them, it is striking that there is a requirement for CBDCs to replicate the performance of cash. And that is clearly proving a challenge.

Comment Technology

Astrid Mitchell

27 May 2021

3 min read

US Coin Shortages Persist

Despite the increase in production at the US Mint, coins for general circulation are still struggling to keep pace with public demand, forcing the Federal Reserve to again limit orders from its customers, especially for dimes and quarter dollars. It is monitoring its inventories to determine whether order limits will be extended to cents and 5 cent coins as well.

Coins