Northern launches new plastic £5 for millennium

Press release

1999

Northern Bank

Northern Bank today unveiled a new commemorative £5 plastic note to mark the advent of the new Millennium.

The new note is made of Guardian® polymer, a type of plastic, which is more durable and has better security features when compared to traditional paper notes.

This is the first Guardian® polymer note to be issued in the United Kingdom and European Union*. Polymer notes are currently in use in Australia.

"This new note will mark Northern Bank's entry into the new Millennium. Its design reflects Northern's innovative and dynamic approach and we hope the people of Northern Ireland will enjoy using the note and talking about it over this year's Christmas dinner," said Tony Murphy, Chief Operating Officer, Northern Bank.

The note is designed vertically instead of horizontally and reflects the beginning of the universe, starting with an Alpha (a) motif at the bottom of the note and moving up to the advent of Christianity depicted by the Star of Bethlehem in the top right corner. A spaceship reaching upwards towards space and the stars, mark man's technological achievements over the last Millennium.

Polymer notes are becoming increasingly popular because their enhanced security features makes counterfeiting more difficult.

Northern Bank's newest note includes security features such as the feel of the polymer which is distinctively smooth on non printed areas, its transparent windows, both clear and coloured on the corner of the note embossed with 4 Alpha (a) motives.

The polymer note is also hardier than the paper note, often lasting up to 4 times longer before needing to be replaced.

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The polymer £5 notes will be available from Northern Bank branches across the province from 21 December 1999 onwards. They will not be dispensed through Automated Teller Machines as Northern Bank ATMs do not normally dispense £5 notes.

As part of the Millenium celebrations, Northern Bank will also be issuing about 50,000 limited edition polymer notes with the 1st January 2000 date printed on them. These notes will be sold in individual presentation packs in February 2000.

Note

Northern Bank's note is made of Guardian® polymer, the first of its type in Western Europe. The plastic note issued by the Isle of Man in the 1970s was issued on a substrate called Tyvek®.

Northern Bank is issuing two million pieces of the £5 notes initially, of which 50,000 will be set aside as limited edition notes.