Wildlife to feature on next series of Bank of England banknotes
AI Analysis
The Bank of England has announced that **wildlife imagery will replace historical figures on the next series of banknotes**, following a public consultation in which nature received 60% support. This decision represents a significant shift in banknote design policy and carries implications for currency authentication, public engagement, and operational planning across the payments ecosystem.
Key dates
- July 2025
- - Initial public consultation on banknote themes closed
- Summer 2026
- - Second public consultation to gather views on specific wildlife species (announced as forthcoming)
- Future (multi
- year process); - Design, testing, and printing of next-generation banknotes with anti-counterfeiting technology
- Several years ahead
- - Issuance of next generation of banknotes
Suggested considerations
- *Monitor the summer 2026 consultation: Track the announcement of the wildlife expert panel's curated species list and participate in the second consultation if relevant to your operations
- *Plan for authentication updates: Currency handlers and retailers should prepare staff training programs for new security features once designs are finalized
- *Update systems and procedures: Payment processors and financial institutions should plan for gradual transition protocols as new notes enter circulation
- *Engage with BoE communications: Subscribe to Bank of England announcements regarding final design decisions and implementation timelines
- *Prepare customer communications: Financial institutions should develop materials explaining the design change and new security features to customers
What changed
- The Bank of England is implementing the following design changes:
- Theme Selection: Wildlife native to Britain will feature on all denominations (£5, £10, £20, £50) of the next banknote series, replacing historical figures such as William Shakespeare, Winston Churchill, and Jane Austen.
- Monarch Continuity: King Charles' portrait will continue to appear on all notes.
- Security Integration: Wildlife imagery has been selected partly for its effectiveness in developing banknotes with easily recognizable and distinguishable security features.
- Scope Expansion: The design may incorporate additional natural elements including plants and landscapes to complement wildlife imagery.
- Expert Curation: A panel of UK wildlife experts will create a curated list of species for public selection, rather than allowing unrestricted choices.
Compliance impact
Urgency: Medium
Who is affected
Related regulations
References
AI-generated analysis. May contain errors or omissions — verify with the original BoE source before acting. Full disclaimer.
What the BoE said
Images of the UK’s wildlife are to feature on the next series of banknotes following a public consultation run by the Bank of England.
Published by BoE . Read the full notice at the source for the authoritative text.