Watermarks and Intaglio Printing Remain Top Anti-Fraud Features

Currency printing is the most outsourced part of the cash cycle of banknotes, according to the Currency Benchmarks 2020 survey – and watermarks and intaglio printing remain the most widely used security features.

According to the survey, 62% of respondents said they outsourced banknotes printing – making it the part of the cycle most likely to be contracted out.

32% of respondents outsourced design, 29% outsourced distribution, and just 18% outsourced sorting, with the rest of the respondents opting to keep these elements in-house.

Traditional security features, such as watermarks and intaglio printing, remain the most popular choices, with 91% of currency managers saying they use watermarks and just under 95% saying they use intaglio printing.

Innovations in print have ensured that the UK continues to create more resilient and secure banknotes, with the latest new £10 banknote being printed on BOPP (non-porous polymer) and treated with white opaque ink for additional anti-fraud security.

The UK’s banknotes also make use of both watermarks and intaglio printing for addded security and anti-fraud measures, along with a variety of other features – included raised print and transparent registers.