Meet the 4 animals that will star on your new banknotes

The Bank of England is redesigning its banknotes, and this time they have chosen animals to be the main stars. Out of the 18 shortlisted species, the public decided the final four. Read along to find out what animals were chosen, why the bank is renewing its banknotes, and what impact it has on your business.

Why is the Bank of England renewing its banknotes?

Cash it still heavily used every day and remains the preferred method of payment for (around) one in seven people in the United Kingdom. The value of circulating cash even reached a record £91.5 billion this year.

To ensure that people can continue to use their cash safely and with confidence, the Bank of England renews and improves the banknotes whenever the need presents itself.

They update the security features to stay ahead of counterfeiters. They update the designs to make each denomination and banknote series easier to recognise and tell apart. And they update the overall durability and sustainability of the notes so they will last even longer.

Updating your device ensures that you are protected against the latest counterfeits. That’s why it is so important for you to do so.

How were the themes and animals chosen?

Back in 2025, the Bank of England asked the public what they would like to see on the new banknotes. Out of the 44,000 respondents 60% voted for the theme ‘’nature’’, 56% voted for the theme ‘’architecture and landmarks’’ and 38% voted for the theme ‘’historical figures’’.

Nature was the clear winner, and what better way to depict nature than through wildlife. The Bank of England worked closely with a panel of wildlife experts to create a shortlist of 18 native animals. Including mammals, birds, marine animals, and amphibians, insects, and fish. They then reopened the votes and let the public decide.

Meet the four animals

More than 500,000 people responded to the survey and cast their vote. Out of all the votes came four clear winners, one for each denomination.

The Atlantic Puffin
With its colourful beak and waddling walk, the puffin is one of the most beloved seabirds in the United Kingdom. These birds spend most of their lives out at sea and only come ashore to breed on coastal cliffs and islands. Making them a good symbol to celebrate the coastline.

The Barn Owl
The Atlantic puffin was the most popular marine animal, leaving another spot open for the people’s favourite bird. Pale, silent, and instantly recognisable by its heart-shaped face, the Barn Owl is a true icon of the British countryside.

The Buff-Tailed Bumblebee
Small but mighty. The buff-tailed bumblebee is one of the most common bumblebees in the United Kingdom. They pollinate wildflowers and crops, which makes them vital to maintain landscapes and harvest food. The bumblebee was the most popular animal in the amphibians, insects, and fish category.

The European Hedgehog
The European Hedgehog is a beloved visitor of gardens, parks, and hedgerows across the United Kingdom - and the most popular animal in mammal category. They are known for their spiny coats and appetite for insects and slugs.

The four animals will be the central images, but they won’t be alone. The designs will also feature other elements from nature, such as plants and landscapes, and potentially other shortlisted animals.

What happens next?

It is not clear what animal will be featured on what denomination yet. It will take multiple years before the new banknotes are released..

The next steps for the Bank of England are to get designs made and chosen, testing the banknotes, and eventually printing them. Each process takes time. It has to in order to ensure that the new notes are high-quality, resilient, sustainable, and equipped with the latest anti-counterfeiting technology.

What does it mean for your business?

At this moment: nothing. Introducing new banknotes is a multiyear process so it will take a few years from now until you will have them in your hands or in your cash drawer.

When the time comes that the new banknotes are released, Safescan has got you covered. We work closely with the Bank of England to ensure compatibility with the latest banknote versions and supply you with free update packages ready to download and install on your Safescan device.

You will be able to verify and count the new banknotes with the same confidence and ease as you are already doing. That’s the Safescan guarantee.

Want to stay up-to-date on all the developments? Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest currency news, exclusive promotions, and special member benefits.

The following source has been consulted and used as a reference in this article:
https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/banknotes/help-us-design-our-next-series-of-banknotes

Written by Peter de Waal. Edited by Melissa Reeuwijk.