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Intelligent Banknote Neutralisation System

The utilisation by credit institutions and other professional cash handlers of Intelligent Banknote Neutralisation Systems, which render the banknotes unfit for circulation, has grown recently.

Instruction No 1/2011 of Banco de Portugal regulates the utilisation of these devices by credit institutions and other professional cash handlers.

Prior to the installation of the new ink-staining systems in Portugal, Banco de Portugal tests their modus operandi and the results of their activation, in order to get acquainted with the respective anti-theft systems.

Representative	Type of equipment	Manufacturer	Ink	Test date	Obs
Feérica	Smartstain, produced by PNP Tech (system for ATM)	Feérica	SICPA (2NS ink) –black colour	27.10.2011
Feérica	Opteva Cassete Model (system for ATM)	Villiger	Villiger ( Ref. 1151.500.147) – Red colour	10.12.2010
-	Q-Cut Electronic (system for ATMs) Security Case Q-Collector 380 (cash-transport system)	SQS	SQS Security Qube System AB Blak colour ink(Art no. 104461) Red colour ink(Art no. 108172)	28.09.2010	The system uses two types of ink with different colors.
Feérica	VCC ALU 190/270/320 EURO CASE (cash-transport system)	Villiger	Villiger (Penetration Ink Violet, Ref. 1151.400185) – violet colour	21.07.2010
Diusframi Sistemas	ICSD L3 (system for ATM)	Oberthur	SICPA (ENCRE MACULANTE VIOLET AX 124-026 ) –violet colour	09.06.2010
Diusframi Sistemas	ICSD L3 (system for ATM)	Oberthur	SICPA (ENCRE MACULANTE 2NS55999 Vert) – Green colour	14.10.2011
-	Scorpion System (system for ATM)	3SI Security Systems	Sun Blue Ink (3SI-08) – Blue colour	08.06.2010
Maxicofre	a2m (system for ATMs) ibox (cash-transport system)	Spinnaker	SICPA (Ref. 2BS8503) –violet colour	22.01.2010
Feérica	ATM Cassete Ink Kit (system for ATM)	Villiger	SICPA (Banknotestain red 2NS3301) - Red colour	18.12.2009

Whenever changes are to be introduced in the ink-staining systems being used that may interfere with their behaviour, the entities and/or manufacturers shall request new tests to Banco de Portugal.

Utilisation of Intelligent Banknote Neutralisation Systems by professional cash handlers

Customer-operated automated machines, namely ATMs, equipped with neutralisation systems shall display the information that banknotes which have been neutralised by these anti-theft devices that emerge in circulation, resulting from successful theft or burglary of such equipment, shall not be accepted by the general public but handed in to Banco de Portugal, the banking system or the police authorities.

In case of burglary or theft and the consequent action on the part of the system to render the banknotes unusable by resorting, for instance, to ink staining – the commonly used neutralisation technology in the national and European markets –, the equipment shall not continue to distribute banknotes to its users.

The minimum requirements for ink-staining neutralisation systems are the following:

The devices shall clearly identify the ink containers, pyrotechnic charges and similar contents and the respective capacity or power.
It shall be guaranteed that, as a result of activation, banknotes will display an ink-stained surface of no less than 30%.
The inks to be used shall be resistant to external agents.

Reporting to Banco de Portugal on the ink-staining systems being used

Prior to the adoption of the eligible ink-staining systems, credit institutions and cash-in-transit companies shall inform Banco de Portugal of that intention, in writing, and provide the following information:

Identification of the type of ink-staining system (representative, type of equipment and manufacturer), the respective technical and operational description and a sample of the ink to be used, in a quantity not less than 2 charges.
Identification of the type of equipment in which the system is to be installed and estimate number of installations.

Exchange of ink-stained banknotes in Banco de Portugal

Banco de Portugal only ensures the exchange of banknotes that were damaged as a result of anti-theft systems, provided that these systems are included in the list of eligible systems, and also depending on the result of the process of internal valuation of the banknotes in question.

However, the Bank may exchange banknotes that have been ink stained in other euro area countries.

Responsibilities of credit institutions regarding the withdrawal from circulation of ink-stained banknotes

Credit institutions must receive, without quantitative limits and under any circumstances, the ink-stained banknotes submitted to them directly by private individuals and companies, and ensure their subsequent sending to Banco de Portugal for valuation purposes.

Credit institutions shall accept ink-stained banknotes, irrespective of the results of the technical and expert analysis of the valuation procedure to be carried out by Banco de Portugal.

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