Wildlife to feature on next series of Bank of England banknotes
Executive Summary
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.
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, rat
What You Need To Do
- *Monitor the summer 2026 consultation
- *Plan for authentication updates
- *Update systems and procedures
- *Engage with BoE communications
- *Prepare customer communications
Key Dates
Compliance Impact
Urgency: Medium
Who is Affected
Summary
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.