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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Nisha Mal

The new £20 polymer note will enter circulation THIS week

This week, there will be a big change to the £20.

Following the footsteps of the £5 and £10, the £20 paper note is going to be replaced with a polymer one.

Polymer is believed to be more durable, cleaner and securer than paper. The new notes will be slightly bigger than the ones we have now.

It will enter circulation this week, on Thursday, February 20.

How long have I got to spend the old paper notes?

After the new polymer £20 enters circulation, you will be able to spend and use your paper ones as usual until the Bank of England withdraws it from circulation.

It will announce the withdrawal date once the polymer note has been released.

The Bank of England says: "We will replace it with a new polymer £20 note on February 20, 2020.

"You will be able to use the current £20 note until we withdraw it from circulation. We will give six months’ notice of this withdrawal date.

"Many banks will accept withdrawn notes as deposits from customers. The Post Office may also accept withdrawn notes as payment for goods and services, or as a deposit into any bank account you can access at the Post Office. And, you can always exchange withdrawn notes with us."

Who is the face of note?

Artist JMW Turner will be the face of the notes. It is the first time an artist has appeared on a British bank note.

He is renowned for his paintings of dramatic seascapes.

Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney asked the public to nominate a deceased cultural figure they felt deserved to be the face of the new note. The list included Alfred Hitchcock, Alexander McQueen, Derek Jarman, Laura Ashley, Francis Bacon, William Morris and Vanessa Bell.

The Bank of England announced that JMW Turner will appear on the new notes back in April 2016.

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