In December 2013, the Bank announced that the next £5 and £10 banknotes would be printed on polymer following a 10 week public consultation that found 87% of respondent were in favour of the change. The polymer £5 note featuring Winston Churchill will be issued in autumn 2016, the £10 polymer note featuring Jane Austen entering circulation a year later.
The Bank made the decision to move to polymer for the £20 note following extensive research into the developments in security features for notes printed on cotton-based paper and polymer since the 2013 decision was made. A competitive tender process for the supply of the polymer for the £20 note is expected to start in late 2015.
The note, which will feature a visual artist nominated during the public nominations period held earlier this year, will enter circulation in 3-5 years’ time.
Published on
02 September 2015
Press release