Wildlife to feature on next series of Bank of England banknotes

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.

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

Key Dates

Who is Affected