The British digital agency Cyber-Duck has been chosen to create a website promoting the Bank of England’s new £5 polymer banknote.
The website is designed to increase the public’s trust prior to its release of the new note, which will enter circulation this September. The banknote – featuring late British prime minister Sir Winston Churchill – will be the bank’s first piece of polymer money.
Sofia Breg, Cyber-Duck marketing lead, said the responsive website will be the focal point for the bank’s promotional campaign. It will fully explain the banknote’s design and security features, detailing the three main benefits of polymer notes:
- “Cleaner – resistant to dirt and moisture, staying clean longer
- Safer – enhanced counterfeit resilience
- Stronger – 2.5 times more durable [than paper notes]”
The new banknote will be unveiled on June 2, according to Victoria Cleland, the Bank of England’s chief cashier.
“The new fiver will bring a step change in counterfeit resilience and quality,” said Cleland. “We have been working extensively with the cash industry to ensure a smooth transition to polymer. Now is the time for retailers and businesses to prepare. Alongside the launch, we will release new free of charge training materials to help businesses train their staff, and run an extensive public awareness campaign to enable everyone to prepare for the new fiver entering circulation in September. This is an exciting time for banknotes and we are grateful to the cash industry for helping us introduce polymer banknotes.”
Danny Bluestone, Cyber-Duck CEO, said it’s important everyone knows what the real £5 polymer notes look like before they enter circulation.
“The website we’re producing for the Bank of England will help to remove any doubts as consumers will be able to engage with the banknote online well before they see it in person.”
Paolo Valenziano, head of digital at the Bank of England, added: “We’re using digital to widen trust in a physical currency that will look and feel quite novel to the public. We selected Cyber-Duck as they were able to cross the divide between digital and physical, suggesting ideas to really bring the banknote to life online.”
For more information, visit cyber-duck.co.uk.