We have not only applied a special coating, which will make the banknotes more durable and should extend their life, but have also incorporated several new or enhanced security features which are used by banknote authenticity devices and banknote handling machines. In most countries the € banknotes will be mainly brought into circulation via bank counters and the cash ordered as change by retailers.
As a result, the new € banknotes will gradually arrive in everyone’s wallets. Only in some countries will € banknotes also be issued via ATMs, but even in these countries banks seem to be reducing the availability of € banknotes in ATMs. We don’t see this as a good development; banks should consider issuing more € banknotes via ATMs.