From today, Eesti Pank is issuing the new twenty-euro banknote with improved security features and a new design through the commercial banks. The most eye-catching change to the twenty-euro notes of the new series is a completely new security feature, a transparent portrait window on the right of the note.

Several security features – the watermark portrait of Europa and the hologrammic strip, the emerald green number, and the short raised lines on the edge of the note – are like those on the five and ten-euro notes of the new series.

“The first new twenty-euro notes are on their way to the banks from Eesti Pank today. From the banks they will be passed to merchants and cash machines and from there they will go to the wallets and pockets of the general public”, said Rait Roosve, Head of the Cash and Infrastructure Department at Eesti Pank.

He emphasised that the new note with its new design and security features is legal tender and traders may not refuse it even if they have not updated their authentication equipment. “Merchants can check the authenticity of the new ten-euro notes by looking at and feeling the security features on the notes”, he explained.

The central banks of the euro area will continue releasing twenty-euro banknotes of the first series at the same time until stocks have run out. Five, ten and twenty-euro banknotes of the first series continue to be valid for payment, but they are gradually being withdrawn from circulation and eventually they will cease to be legal tender, though it will always be possible to exchange them at central banks. An announcement about when they cease to be legal tender will be made well in advance.

School children can find out more about the euro cash from the interactive online game Euro Run. This pan-European competition will be running from today for children aged 9-12 to test their skills and their knowledge about money. The competition runs until 25 February, and the best 100 players will win a new €20 banknote set in a special engraved frame. Eesti Pank will give iPads as prizes to the top three players in Estonia. Enter the competition and play!

Eesti Pank organised free training for cash handlers across Estonia in October and November to demonstrate the security features of the new notes, and more than 150 people from companies and banks took part.

In October the European Central Bank sent out a brochure on on the security features of the new twenty-euro banknote by direct mail to companies operating in Estonia. The brochure was sent to around 8000 companies.

The publications intended for cash handlers have been distributed by Eesti Pank through its partners and to anyone who has contacted the bank to ask for them. Free copies can still be ordered from Eesti Pank [email protected].

How can the security features of the banknote be checked?

Look. Against the light, a watermark of a portrait becomes visible on the left-hand side underneath the signature of Mario Draghi and the flag of the European Union. Looking at the note against the light reveals a portrait of Europa in the window, which can be seen from both sides of the note.

Feel. The new twenty-euro note has raised lines along the right and left edges that can be felt with a finger and it is made of strong, crisp paper.

Tilt. There is an emerald-green number printed on the lower left side of the note, which changes colour from green to dark blue when the note is tilted. When the banknote is tilted, the hologrammic strip will reveal the portrait of Europa, the number 20, the euro symbol, and a design of a doorway or a window.

For further information:
Ingrid Mitt
Public Relations Office
Tel: +372 668 0965
Email: [email protected]