This page is for manufacturers of Automatic Cash Handling Machines and their customers. These are machines that accept, count or sort banknotes and automatically decide whether a banknote is counterfeit or genuine. Some machines can also sort and separate banknotes into different categories such as genuine fit, genuine unfit and suspect or counterfeit.
The Bank has introduced a voluntary framework to test machines with known counterfeit types on a regular basis. In the future the Bank will introduce additional tests to check their capability to sort according to a fitness level where they are designed to do so.
Details of machines that pass the tests are published below;
The framework document governing the testing regime is published below. Businesses should be particularly aware of the limitations of testing with respect to the equipment that they own and use which is described in section 9.
Manufacturers are free to participate in this initiative at any time.
For further information or to begin the application process please contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
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1. Why is the Bank introducing a framework?
- The framework is one strand in our efforts to maintain a high level of confidence in Bank of England banknotes. The Bank would like companies that own or use equipment to be able to make informed choices about the equipment they use. The Bank would also like manufacturers to be made more aware of counterfeit threats on a regular formal basis so that they can improve their machines if required. Finally, the Bank would like to verify the capability of machines used for localised sorting and recycling.
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2. What about other devices such as pens, UV lamps and such like ?
- These devices rely on the user to make a decision about whether the banknote is genuine or suspect. The framework is intended for automatic machines that make the decision electronically. The Bank issues advice about pens, UV lamps here.
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3. Why is my manufacturer not listed?
- Please check with your manufacturer first. It may be that the tests have yet to take place.
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4. Why are all machines not tested before being sold?
- The Bank does not have the resources to verify every single machine in use. A proportionate approach is to verify the performance of an example model of each machine.
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5. How do I check that my machine has the latest software update?
- Please check with your manufacturer or their appointed agent on how to do this.
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6. Why do I need to check that my machine has the latest software update?
- Manufacturers often update the software in their machines if banknote designs change, or if a new counterfeit threat has appeared which requires them to make amendments to their software. For best protection you should ensure that the machine you are using is the latest recommended by the manufacturer.
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7. My manufacturer does not support my old machines, what do I do?
- The framework is partly intended to enable users to make informed choices about the machines they use in their businesses. To ensure continued protection, it may be that you need to change the equipment that you use.
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8. I am an importer/distributor of machines, how do I get these tested?
- You should ask the manufacturer to contact us directly.
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9. What about other Sterling notes issued by other UK banks, e.g. in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
- The Bank of England framework does not include other sterling notes issued by other banks. You should approach these banks.
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10. Does the framework apply to the Euro in the UK ?
- No. Please go the ECB web site for more information. www.ecb.int on the Euro testing framework.
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11. Why do you not certify all machines?
- The Bank can only test example models of machines brought to us by manufacturers. Certification in itself implies a guarantee that a machine in use will always perform as the tested example. The Bank does not have any control over the way that machines in use are set up or serviced, and therefore we could not certify that all machines in use will always perform as the tested example.
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12. Can I stick the Bank logo on my machine if it passes the test ?
- No, but manufacturers can refer to the framework and the test results in their literature or website.
