New £20 polymer banknote enters into circulation

The new £20 note has entered into circulation.

Printed on polymer, the note features artist JMW Turner on the reverse, replacing 18th Century economist Adam Smith. It retains the distinctive £20 purple colour.

The note incorporates two see-through windows and a two colour foil for the first time, making it the most secure of the notes.

The two main security features to look out for are:

• See through windows – Look at the metallic image over the main window. Margate Lighthouse appears in gold foil with the Turner Contemporary gallery in blue and the foils are silver on the back. There is another small see-through window in the bottom corner of the note.
• Hologram image – The metallic patch under the main window contains the word ‘Twenty’. This changes to ‘Pounds’ when the note is tilted from side to side.

Retailers may need to engage with banknote machine suppliers to ensure any note accepting or dispensing machines – such as self-service checkouts, banknote authenticators and note counters – will be updated.

The paper notes will be gradually withdrawn as they are banked. Notice will be given six months’ ahead of legal tender status of the paper £20 being withdrawn.

They will remain legal tender and should be spent and accepted as usual. Shop staff will need to be able to check both paper and polymer £20 notes while they co-circulate.

More security details and training resources can be found here.