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SMI is the acknowledged world leader in the provision of independent technical & commercial expertise to the currency industry. Founded in 1994, SMI consultants each have many years’ experience working in the currency industry, and consequently have extensive knowledge and understanding of all aspects of the banknote and coin markets, offering consultancy services on a range of issues related to the security, manufacture, issue, circulation and management of physical cash in the economy.

Expedia to accept Bitcoin payments

Cashless Payments, NewsBy SMI 12/06/2014

Expedia, one of the world’s largest online travel agencies, has announced that they will begin accepting Bitcoin payment transactions. It will limit the payments to hotel bookings initially and will only be available to those using the US version of their online store during its trial of the new payment service. Bitcoin payments are already…

Goznak to become a joint-stock corporation

Banknotes, Coin, Currency, NewsBy SMI 06/06/2014

Goznak, Russia’s Federal State Unitary Enterprise and one of the world’s largest producers of coins, banknotes, postal stamps and awards, is to be transformed into an open joint-stock corporation following orders from President Vladimir Putin. Putin has ordered that this occur within the next 18 months. All shares in Goznak will remain with the Russian state.…

Lithuania to adopt the euro in 2015

Currency, NewsBy SMI 04/06/2014

The European Commission has advised that Lithuania has met the criteria for joining the European single currency, the euro. To be able to adopt the euro, a country has to have government debt below 60% of gross domestic product (GDP), a budget deficit under 3% of GDP, low inflation and interest rates and its own…

London buses cashless from 6 July 2014

Cashless Payments, NewsBy SMI 03/06/2014

Transport for London (TFL) has today advised the public that their network of buses will stop accepting cash payments from Sunday 6th July 2014. Instead, pre-paid Oyster cards or contactless payment cards can be swiped against on-board card readers, and Travelcards continue to be available. Related stories: London buses to stop using use cash Source: Transport…

UK cash use declining but still the predominant choice

Banknotes, Cashless Payments, Currency, NewsBy SMI 02/06/2014

A report released today by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) shows that cash use in payment transactions is still the predominant payment choice but is one that is gradually declining. The BRCs Retail Payments Survey 2013 reports that cash has reduced in value, number of transactions and the average transaction value. When comparing to the 2012 figures, cash…

De La Rue plc reports 2014 results

Banknotes, Currency, NewsBy SMI 28/05/2014

This morning De La Rue plc (DLR) reported its full year results for the 2013/2014 period. The largest commercial producer of banknotes and security documents, which has a market capitalisation of around £880 million, has reported a 37% increase in pre-tax profits for the year to March 29 2014, showing continued recovery from the paper production…

First UK polymer banknote to be issued 2015

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 23/05/2014

The first plastic polymer banknote to be issued in the United Kingdom will be circulated in 2015. Two million Scottish £5 banknotes will be issued by Clydesdale Bank branches (not the Bank of England, which will issue its own polymer £5 banknote design in 2016). The new Scottish note features the Forth Bridge on its…

Kuwait to issue 6th banknote series

Banknotes, NewsBy SMI 21/05/2014

On May 19th 2014 the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) unveiled the sixth banknote series of the Kuwaiti currency. The CBK has released a promotional video as part of its Sixth banknote issue educational campaign, which is narrated in Arabic: The new series will be issued into circulation from 29 June 2014. The banknote series feature…

Libya releases new half dinar coin

Coin, NewsBy SMI 13/05/2014

The Central Bank of Libya (CBL) has issued a new half dinar coin. The new coin, which was issued on Sunday 11th May, is a bi-metal design featuring a gold coloured central core and a silver coloured outer ring. The Central Bank has advised that both the old and new versions of the coin will…

MasterCard president says ‘cash is dying, slowly’

Cashless Payments, NewsBy SMI 12/05/2014

The President of MasterCard International Markets, Ann Cairns, has recently discussed the impacts of alternative payments on the use of cash, saying that “cash is dying, slowly”. In an interview with International Business Times (IBTimes) TV, Ann Cairns said that the use of paper and cash as a payment medium accounts for 85% of the…