New NI Bank Notes In Circulation

New bank notes have been released into circulation in Northern Ireland.

The £10 and £20 notes are being issued from Danske Bank and will gradually replace the existing Northern Bank notes.

The design of the notes remains the same, the only difference is the Danske Bank logo has replaced the Northern Bank logo.

However, the previous notes will remain in circulation until being removed over time, a process which takes several years. After that, consumers will still be able to use the current Northern Bank notes, or exchange them for new notes in any Danske Bank branch.

Gerry Mallon, Head of Danske Bank UK and Ireland, said: "The launch of our new banknotes marks the final stage of Northern Bank's re-brand to Danske Bank and the introduction of a new consumer brand to the local market. It's been seven months since we changed the signs above our doors and I have been very encouraged by how well the new name has been received by customers and by the wider community.

"We have been working hard to raise awareness of our new name over the last year. Our own surveys show that this work is paying off, as awareness levels of the Danske Bank brand are high.

"As the new banknotes will be very similar to the Northern Bank notes, they will look familiar to consumers and retailers. Although the existing Northern Bank notes will gradually be withdrawn from circulation, they can of course continue to be used in the usual way and will be accepted in retail outlets."

Danske Bank does not print its own £5 notes and from 24 June the bank will stop printing its own £50 and £100 notes. Bank of England notes will be issued instead.

Northern Bank rebranded as Danske Bank, the name of its parent bank, in November 2012.

(JP/CD)