Reserve Bank says no counterfeit notes

The Reserve Bank of Vanuatu wishes to remind the general public that the Bank is the sole authority responsible for Vatu currency matters and the only institution that can confirm the genuineness of Vatu notes and coins following its due diligence process.

As such the bank wishes to advise that there are no fakes or counterfeits of the Vt1000 circulating in Port Vila as reported by Radio Vanuatu and Television blong Vanuatu (TBV) on Thursday 13 November 2014.

The alleged fake Vt1000 as reported by TBV was paper cutting from the public awareness leaflets which the bank distributes to the general public as part of its public education program.

The paper image has reference numbers identifying where security features of the banknote can be located.

As polymer banknotes are quite new having been in circulation for just over six month, it will take some time for the general public to get use to the product and the bank continues to remind all banknote users to exercise great caution to ensure that banknote reproductions are clearly identified and no one is tricked into accepting them as money.

The following main security features will assist in identifying polymer notes :

1. Feel of the paper;

2. Clear and transparent windows;

3. Shadow images in the clear/transparent windows;

4. Serial numbers;

Further, the public is urged to check both sides of the notes to ensure that correct denominational designs are present and that there are no circled numbers on the banknotes before accepting the notes as money.

The Bank wishes to further advise the general public to report any banknote reproductions/paper cuttings that they may come across immediately to the Reserve bank of Vanuatu or the Police for further investigation.