DECISION OF THE EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK
of 16 September 2010
on the authenticity and fitness checking and recirculation of euro banknotes
(ECB/2010/14)
(2010/597/EU)
Article 1
Scope
Article 2
Definitions
Article 3
General principles
Article 4
Classification and treatment of euro banknotes by banknote handling machines
Article 5
Detection of counterfeit euro banknotes
Article 6
Detection of unfit euro banknotes
Article 7
Exceptions
Article 8
Eurosystem commitments
Article 9
Eurosystem’s common test procedures for banknote handling machines
Article 10
Eurosystem monitoring activities and corrective measures
Article 11
Reporting obligations
Article 12
Costs
Article 13
Final provisions
ANNEX I
BANKNOTE HANDLING MACHINES
1. General technical requirements
2. Categories of banknote handling machines
A. Customer-operated machines where cash is deposited with customer tracing |
||
1. |
Cash-in machines (CIMs) |
CIMs allow customers, by using a bank card or other means, to deposit euro banknotes in their bank accounts, but do not have any cash-dispensing function. CIMs check euro banknotes for authenticity and allow for traceability of the account holder; fitness checks are optional |
2. |
Cash-recycling machines (CRMs) |
CRMs allow customers, by using a bank card or other means, to deposit euro banknotes in their bank accounts and to withdraw euro banknotes from their bank accounts. CRMs check euro banknotes for authenticity and fitness and allow for tracebility of the account holder. For withdrawals, CRMs may use genuine fit euro banknotes that have been deposited by other customers in previous transactions |
3. |
Combined cash-in machines (CCMs) |
CCMs allow customers, by using a bank card or other means, to deposit euro banknotes in their bank accounts and to withdraw euro banknotes from their bank accounts. CCMs check euro banknotes for authenticity and allow for traceability of the account holder; fitness checks are optional. For withdrawals, CCMs do not use euro banknotes that have been deposited by other customers in previous transactions but only euro banknotes loaded separately into them |
B. Other customer-operated machines |
||
4. |
Cash-out machines (COM) |
COMs are cash dispensers which check euro banknotes for authenticity and fitness before dispensing them to customers. COMs use euro banknotes loaded into them by cash handlers or other automated systems (e.g. vending machines) |
1. |
Banknote processing machines (BPMs) |
BPMs check euro banknotes for authenticity and fitness |
2. |
Banknote authentication machines (BAMs) |
BAMs check euro banknotes for authenticity |
3. |
Teller assistant recycling machines (TARMs) |
TARMs are cash recycling machines operated by cash handlers that check euro banknotes for authenticity and fitness. For withdrawals, TARMs may use genuine fit euro banknotes that have been deposited by other customers in previous transactions. In addition, they keep euro banknotes in safe custody and allow cash handlers to credit or debit the bank accounts of customers |
4. |
Teller assistant machines (TAMs) |
TAMs are machines operated by cash handlers that check euro banknotes for authenticity. In addition, they keep euro banknotes in safe custody and allow cash handlers to credit or debit the bank accounts of customers |
3. Types of banknote handling machines
ANNEX IIa
CLASSIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF EURO BANKNOTES BY CUSTOMER-OPERATED MACHINES
Category |
Properties |
Treatment |
|||||||||||
1 |
Objects not recognised as euro banknotes |
Not recognised as euro banknotes because of any of the following:
|
Return by the machine to the customer |
||||||||||
2 |
Suspect counterfeit euro banknotes |
Image and format recognised, but one or more authentication feature checked by the machine not detected or clearly out of tolerance |
Withdraw from circulation To be handed over for authentication, together with information related to the account holder, to the competent national authorities immediately, at the latest 20 working days after deposit in the machine. Do not credit to the account holder |
||||||||||
3 |
Euro banknotes that are not clearly authenticated |
Image and format recognised, but not all authentication features checked by the machine are recognised because of quality and/or tolerance deviations. In most cases unfit euro banknotes |
Withdraw from circulation. The euro banknotes are processed separately and handed over for authentication to the competent national authorities immediately, at the latest 20 working days after deposit in the machine Information on the account holder is stored for eight weeks after the euro banknotes have been detected by the machine. This information is made available on request to the competent national authorities. Alternatively, in agreement with the competent national authorities, information allowing the traceability of the account holder can be handed over together with the euro banknotes to those authorities May be credited to the account holder |
||||||||||
4a |
Euro banknotes that are identified as genuine and fit |
All authenticity and fitness checks carried out by the machine giving positive results |
Can be used for recirculation Credited to the account holder |
||||||||||
4b |
Euro banknotes that are identified as genuine and unfit |
All authenticity checks carried out by the machine giving positive results. At least one fitness criterion checked giving a negative result |
Cannot be used for recirculation and are returned to the NCB Credited to the account holder |
Category |
Properties |
Treatment |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
A |
|
|
Withdraw from circulation To be handed over for authentication to the competent national authorities immediately, at the latest 20 working days after detection by the the machine |
||||||||||||||||||||||
B1 |
Euro banknotes that are identified as genuine and fit |
All authenticity and fitness checks carried out by the machine giving positive results |
Can be dispensed to customers |
||||||||||||||||||||||
B2 |
Euro banknotes that are identified as genuine and unfit |
All authenticity checks carried out by the machine giving positive results. At least one fitness criterion checked giving a negative result |
Cannot be dispensed to customers and are returned to the NCB |
ANNEX IIb
CLASSIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF EURO BANKNOTES BY STAFF-OPERATED MACHINES
Category |
Properties |
Treatment |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A |
|
|
Return by the machine to the operator for further evaluation and treatment
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
B1 |
Euro banknotes that are identified as genuine and fit |
All authenticity and fitness checks carried out by the machine giving positive results |
Can be used for recirculation. Credited to the account holder |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
B2 |
Euro banknotes that are identified as genuine and unfit |
All authenticity checks carried out by the machine giving positive results. At least one fitness criterion checked giving a negative result |
Cannot be used for recirculation and are returned to the NCB. Credited to the account holder |
Specific classification and sorting rules for some staff-operated machines
ANNEX IIIa
MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR AUTOMATED FITNESS CHECKING OF EURO BANKNOTES
Defect |
Definition |
|
1. |
Soil |
General distribution of dirt across the entire euro banknote |
2. |
Stain |
Localised concentration of dirt |
3. |
Graffiti |
Added image or lettering written or marked in any manner on a euro banknote |
4. |
De-inked note |
Lack of ink on part or whole of the euro banknote, e.g. a washed euro banknote |
5. |
Tear |
Self-explanatory |
6. |
Hole |
Self-explanatory |
7. |
Mutilation |
Euro banknotes with part(s) missing, along at least one edge (in contrast to holes) |
8. |
Repair |
Parts of one or more euro banknotes joined together by tape or glue or other means |
9. |
Crumples |
Multiple random folds |
10. |
Limpness |
Structural deterioration resulting in a marked lack of stiffness |
11. |
Fold |
Self-explanatory |
12. |
Folded corner |
Self-explanatory |
Further information on sorting criteria
1. Soil
Denomination |
Maximum density increase of limit sample compared to new euro banknote |
Filter |
EUR 5 |
0,06 |
Magenta |
EUR 10 |
0,06 |
Magenta |
EUR 20 |
0,08 |
Magenta |
EUR 50 |
0,07 |
Magenta |
EUR 100 |
0,07 |
Magenta |
EUR 200 |
0,04 |
Magenta |
EUR 500 |
0,04 |
Magenta |
2. Stain
3. Graffiti
4. De-inked note
5. Tear
Direction |
Width |
Length |
Vertical |
4 mm |
8 mm |
Horizontal |
4 mm |
15 mm |
Diagonal |
4 mm |
18 mm(1) |
6. Hole
7. Mutilation
8. Repair
9. Crumples
10. Limpness
11. Fold
12. Folded corner
ANNEX IIIb
MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR MANUAL FITNESS CHECKING OF EURO BANKNOTES
Feature |
Description |
|
1. |
Soil |
Visually noticeable distribution of dirt across the euro banknote |
2. |
Stain |
Visually noticeable localised concentration of dirt |
3. |
Graffiti |
Visually noticeable added image or lettering written or marked in any manner on a euro banknote |
4. |
De-inked note |
Visually noticeable lack of ink on part or whole of the euro banknote, e.g. a washed euro banknote |
5. |
Tear |
Euro banknote with at least one tear at the edge |
6. |
Hole |
Euro banknote with at least one visually noticeable hole |
7. |
Mutilation |
Euro banknote with a part/parts missing along at least one edge (in contrast to holes), e.g. a missing corner |
8. |
Repair |
Parts of one or more euro banknotes joined together by tape, glue or other means |
9. |
Crumples |
Euro banknote with multiple random folds across it that strongly affect its visual appearance |
10. |
Limpness |
Euro banknote with structural deterioration resulting in a marked lack of stiffness |
11. |
Folded euro banknote |
Euro banknote that is folded, including a euro banknote that cannot be unfolded |
12. |
Folded corner |
Euro banknote with at least one clearly noticible folded corner |
ANNEX IV
DATA COLLECTION FROM CASH HANDLERS
1. Objectives
2. General principles
3. Type of data and reporting requirements
Master data
Operational data
4. Confidentiality and publication of data
APPENDIX 1
REPORTING TEMPLATE
Master data
1. Cash handler information
2. Customer-operated machines
Type |
Manufacturer(1) |
Machine name(1) |
Identification(1) (detector system/software versions) |
Total number in operation |
CIMs |
|
|
|
|
CRMs |
|
|
|
|
CCMs |
|
|
|
|
COMs |
|
|
|
|
TARMs(2) |
|
|
|
|
TAMs(2) |
|
|
|
|
3. Staff-operated machines
Type |
Manufacturer(3) |
Machine name(3) |
Identification(3) (detector system/software versions) |
Total number in operation |
BPMs |
|
|
|
|
BAMs |
|
|
|
|
TARMs(4) |
|
|
|
|
TAMs(4) |
|
|
|
|
4. Cash dispensers
Type |
Total number in operation |
ATMs |
|
SCoTs |
|
Others |
|
APPENDIX 2
REPORTING TEMPLATE
Operational data
1. Cash handler information
Cash handler’s name |
|
Reporting period |
|
2. Data
|
Total number of euro banknotes processed(1) |
Of which sorted as unfit(1) |
Of which recirculated(2) |
EUR 5 |
|
|
|
EUR 10 |
|
|
|
EUR 20 |
|
|
|
EUR 50 |
|
|
|
EUR 100 |
|
|
|
EUR 200 |
|
|
|
EUR 500 |
|
|
|
Number of euro banknotes distributed via customer operated machines and cash dispensers |
|
APPENDIX 3
REMOTE BRANCHES OF CREDIT INSTITUTIONS
1. Credit institution information
Credit institution’s name |
|
Reporting period |
|
2. Data
Name of remote branch |
Address |
Number of euro banknotes distributed via customer-operated machines and cash dispensers |
|
|
|