The Royal Bank of Scotland issues banknotes in denominations of £1, £5, £10, £20 and £50. Royal Bank of Scotland issued a new polymer £5 in 2016, £10 in 2017, £20 in 2020 and a £50 in 2021. These have now replaced the older paper notes.
Counterfeit banknotes: How to spot them
We advise that when trying to authenticate a banknote, you should look for genuine security features, comparing a suspect note with one that is known to be genuine.
Never rely on looking for only one feature – the feature you choose may be one the counterfeiters have attempted to replicate. Instead check for as many as possible of the following:
Serial number
Genuine notes have unique serial numbers therefore if you have two notes displaying the same serial number at least one of them is a counterfeit.
Tilt
Tilt the note to see the colour change / foil features.
Look / Feel
Look for microtext and /or tactile features and the clear window(s).
UV Light
Additional features include those which can be seen under an Ultraviolet (UV) light check that they are the right colour(s) and in the right position on the note.
Printing
Raised print is used in some of the features on genuine banknotes and should feel slightly rough to the touch. Lines and print should be sharp and well defined with no blurred edges. Colours should be clear and distinct – not hazy.
Possession of a counterfeit banknote
If you do not know who gave you the banknote you are required to take it to any local branch of the affected bank of issue. The bank will complete a "Retention of Counterfeit Currency Form" and give you a copy for your records.
The Bank will then authenticate the banknote before forwarding all counterfeits to the National Crime Agency for analysis.
Counterfeit banknotes are worthless therefore no reimbursement will be given unless the banknote submitted is subsequently found to be genuine.
What to do if you find yourself in possession of a counterfeit banknote:
If you have a banknote that you believe to be counterfeit, and you know for sure who gave you the note, you should take it immediately to the police for investigation.
Additional Educational Material available:
You can find out about Bank of England banknotes on the Bank of England’s website.
For information on Scottish and Northern Irish bank notes, visit UK Finance’s website.
