Date: 26 July 2021
Disclosure:
The table below shows the number and value of Bank of England £5, £10, £20 and £50 paper banknotes (all series) which have been returned and are still in circulation since the issue of the respective polymer banknotes as at 2 July 2021:
| Number of banknotes returned (millions) | Number of banknotes in circulation (millions) | Value of returned banknotes (£millions) | Value of banknotes in circulation (£millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £5 paper banknotes returned since 13 September 2016* | 229 | 114 | 1,143 | 570 |
| £10 paper banknotes returned since 14 September 2017* | 715 | 76 | 7,149 | 761 |
| £20 paper banknotes returned since 20 February 2020* | 1,333 | 510 | 26,656 | 10,202 |
| £50 paper banknotes returned since 23 June 2021* | 5 | 341 | 269 | 17,060 |
| Total | 2,282 | 1,041 | 35,217 | 28,593 |
* Date the polymer banknote was issued
The paper £20F series and the paper £50F series will no longer be legal tender after 30 September 2022.
All genuine Bank of England banknotes that have been withdrawn from circulation retain their face value for all time. There is no expiry on the period in which we will exchange old banknotes.