New Bank of Ireland polymer bank notes go into circulation from today
27 February, 2019
Today, Bank of Ireland UK launch their new £5 and £10 polymer bank notes into circulation in Northern Ireland. The polymer £20 banknote will follow in 2020.
The new polymer banknotes will retain the familiar and iconic image of The Old Bushmills Distillery, in Antrim, the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery which makes triple distilled malt whiskey and produces both blended and single malt whiskey.
Ian Sheppard, Managing Director NI, Bank of Ireland UK: “Today marks an important development in our note history as we issue polymer banknotes in Northern Ireland for the first time.
“Bank of Ireland is at the forefront of banknote design technology and the introduction of polymer notes marks the single biggest change to our bank notes in Northern Ireland in living memory. The use of polymer will now ensure our banknotes are cleaner, more durable, more environmentally friendly and, with enhanced features, more secure than ever before.
“From 27th February, we will only be issuing polymer notes. The date of withdrawal of our paper £5 and £10 notes will be announced at a later date, however we would encourage customers to exchange any paper notes they have with the new polymer notes by this summer.”
While the banknote design remains familiar, the new polymer notes are different in a number of ways. For the first time ever, the £10 note will have two arrangements of four raised dots in square formation, enabling physical identification for the visually impaired.
The new notes will also incorporate a clear window which can be seen from both the front and back of the notes and they will have a shiny iridescent area of ink which changes colour as you tilt the note.
The current banknote design first went into circulation on April 22, 2008 to coincide with the 400th anniversary of King James 1 granting a license to the area around Bushmills to distil whiskey.
Bank of Ireland is currently the largest issuer of banknotes in Northern Ireland. The £5 and £10 notes bear the signature of the bank’s UK Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Thomas McAreavey.
Ends
Media contact:
Catherine Agnew at Smarts Communicate
T: 02890 395500
M: 07779101360
E: Catherine.agnew@smartscommunicate.com
Notes to editors:
Polymer £10 and £20 notes will each include similar security features as the £5 note, and both will have a different tactile feature to help identify the denominations, and the £5 note will be distinguishable by the absence of the feature.’
