# Bank of England consults on introducing plastic bank notes

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2013/09/11/bank-of-england-consults-introducing-plastic-bank-notes/
- Published: 2013-09-11T12:25:09+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**The Bank of England is conducting a national roadshow to consult the public and
interested organisations on whether it should introduce plastic or ‘[polymer](http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/polymer/Pages/default.aspx)‘
banknotes. If the plan goes ahead, they would introduce the plastic notes from 2016,
starting with the Churchill £5 note and then the Jane Austen £10.**

The Bank says that plastic notes stay cleaner for longer, incorporate security features
making them hard to counterfeit, and are durable, lasting up to 2.5 times longer
than the current cotton paper notes. As such, over time, they are cheaper for the
Bank to produce.

The Bank has conducted a three year research project into the issue. This included
looking into the use of plastic banknotes in 20 other countries, including Canada,
Australia, Mexico, Singapore, and Fiji.

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If introduced, fundraisers will have to get used to the new format when accepting
cash donations. The Bank reports that the new notes will be “thin and flexible” 
and will be a little smaller than current notes. They will however retain the existing
tiered sizing format, in which higher denominations are are produced on larger notes.

The Bank has alread consulted the Royal National Institute of Blind People on the
size changes and the charity has indicated its support.

The current banknote design would be retained, featuring Her Majesty the Queen and,
on the reverse, people “people who have made a universally-recognised and lasting
contribution in their particular field of work”.

The Bank’s [consultation](http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/polymer/Pages/comments.aspx)
will run until 15 November, and it will announce its decision in December 2013.

 

 * **[Collectable new £5 notes auctioned for charities](https://fundraising.co.uk/2016/10/11/collectable-new-5-notes-auctioned-charities/)**(
   11 October 2016)
 * **[Bank of England’s short videos show how to spot genuine banknotes](https://fundraising.co.uk/2018/10/03/bank-englands-short-videos-show-spot-genuine-banknotes/)**(
   3 October 2018)
 * **[Six months left to spend paper £20 & £50 notes](https://fundraising.co.uk/2022/03/31/six-months-left-to-spend-paper-20-50-notes/)**(
   31 March 2022)

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