Bank of Ireland UK has announced its new polymer £20 banknote will go into circulation from 20 July.
The new £20 note retains the image of The Old Bushmills Distillery, County Antrim, the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery.
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The note incorporates enhanced security features, including a holographic stripe and a clear window. This can be seen from both the front and back of the note. The note will also include a shiny, iridescent area of ink which changes colour as you tilt it.
The £20 polymer note also incorporates a tactile feature with three arrangements of four dots in a square formation. This enables physical identification for the visually impaired.
The £20 polymer note features Bank of Ireland Group Chief Executive Officer Francesca McDonagh as the signatory.
Commitment to innovation and the environment
Ian Sheppard, Managing Director NI, Bank of Ireland UK, says: “As the largest issuer of banknotes in Northern Ireland, the unveiling of our new £20 polymer banknote is an important milestone in our history.
“Bank of Ireland UK remains at the forefront of banknote design technology. We have committed to polymer notes because they are cleaner, more durable, more environmentally friendly and, with enhanced features, they are more secure than ever before.
“When we released our £5 and £10 polymer banknotes last year, it was the single biggest change to our banknotes in Northern Ireland in living memory.
“Our switch from paper to polymer for our £5, £10 and £20 notes is an example of our innovation and commitment to meeting the evolving needs of consumers as well as our environment, so I’m delighted that we are continuing the transition from paper to polymer.”
The withdrawal date for the paper £20 notes has yet to be announced. There are currently no changes to the £50 or £100 banknotes.
Bank of Ireland NI: a solid 2019
The Bank of Ireland franchise in Northern Ireland enjoyed a solid fiscal 2019, notwithstanding political uncertainties. These included the failure of local politicians to re-convene the devolved Assembly and the ongoing Brexit saga.
Bank of Ireland operates a full-service retail and commercial bank in Ulster. The branch network comprises 28 branches including six business centres. The BoI Ulster loan book exceeds £2.3bn with customer numbers in excess of 200,000.
